Young Woman Receives a Life-Saving Transplant After Her Aunt Donates a Kidney

Eight years ago, Kaylin Cassity went to University Hospitals Samaritan Medical Center in Ashland because she had been experiencing persistent headaches and nausea. According to Kaylin, that visit turned out to be truly life-saving.

After receiving IV fluids, Kaylin was starting to feel better and the hospital staff was considering sending her home. However, the physician on duty said something about Kaylin’s case just didn’t feel right – so he decided to do more testing. This led to the discovery that Kaylin’s kidneys were only working at 4 percent capacity. Kaylin was told she would have to start dialysis treatment that week.

For the next several months, Kaylin underwent dialysis treatment three days a week, four hours at a time. Seven months later, she received the best news possible: she was going to be scheduled for a kidney transplant.

“My wonderful Aunt Karen stepped forward, had all of the rigorous testing done, and was deemed a good match,” Kaylin said.

The transplant, performed by the expert surgeons at University Hospitals Transplant Institute, went off without a hitch, and both Kaylin and her aunt recovered quickly.

“Today, thanks to organ donation, I live a very normal life,” Kaylin said “I thank organ donors from the bottom of my heart and encourage everyone to become an organ, eye or tissue donor – it just might save a life.”

Learn more information about organ donation at University Hospitals Transplant Institute or by visiting Donate Life Ohio.