NEWS FLASH: TRISH IN RECOVERY FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL KIDNEY TRANSPLANT!
Trish is in recovery following her under-four-hour kidney transplant surgery Thursday, June 11, 2009 at the University of Toledo Medical Center. Surgeon was Dr. Michael Rees, founder of the Alliance for Paired Donation (paireddonation.org) and the donor was a 41 year old woman from New Jersey whose husband received a transplant a couple weeks ago from another anonymous altruistic donor. The chain will continue when a match is found for Aunt Marcia, who, as Mom's "donor" through the paired matching program, will donate to someone else in need as a way to keep the "pay it forward" matching program going. After the kidney was removed from the donor, it flew to Detroit where it was transported to Toledo via i-75 - where it was stuck in a stop-and-go traffic jam. After being on ice for 11.5 hours it was transplanted into Trish where it is now working well to rid her body of the toxins that have been building up for years. Thank you all for the support, the encouragement, thoughts/prayers/well wishes/good vibes and all of it. We are so fortunate to have such wonderful friends and family. NEXT UP: We are seeking donors for Uncle Steve and Uncle Dan, who have both reached the point in kidney function where they need to either start dialysis or receive a kidney. If you are interested in donating to one of Trish's brothers, please contact us through this Web site. THANK YOU!!
Why we need to Save Trish
Our mom, Trish, has Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), one of the most common, life-threatening genetic diseases in the U.S.
Our mom's kidney function has significantly deteriorated due to the rapid progression of this disease. She is in the final stage of kidney failure. Due to her decreased kidney function, she has become extremely tired, she cannot exercise, and she even has trouble sleeping.
You can read more about PKD here.
In order to stay alive, Trish either needs one kidney transplanted from another human being or dialysis, a system in which she will be connected to a machine for several hours per day to clean her blood. 
Transplants are generally more successful the less time a patient spends on dialysis.
Unfortunately, dialysis can only supplement her current kidney function by a small percentage and removes important vitamins and nutrients from her blood. And yet - Trish still works full-time, going into work every day regardless of how she feels, and volunteers on the board of directors with a local non-profit.
A Proud Grandmother!
Trish just became a grandmother for the first time. Please help her stay healthy to enjoy this little guy and see the birth of future grandchildren.
Become a Donor!
Everyone knows that kidneys are vital to living a healthy, normal life, yet not everyone knows that each of us is born with two kidneys, or 200 percent of what we need.
Time is running out for our mom!
Trish is currently on the list for a transplant through the University of Michigan’s Organ Transplant Center. Yet, the wait for a transplant can be anywhere from three to seven years - and each year, thousands of people die while waiting for a transplant. Transplants are generally more successful the less time a patient spends on dialysis. There are several factors involved in donating a kidney to our mom - but first and foremost, your blood type needs to be B or O, positive or negative (she has blood type B+). Then, you need to be fairly healthy - no high blood pressure. And, you need to go through a series of tests to make sure you are a good candidate for donation and you are a match so our mom's body won't reject your kidney. Alternatively, there is an option now at the University of Michigan as well as several other transplant centers called paired donation - in which two recipients have donors, but the donors don't match their recipients; however they match each other's recipient. The donors then donate to each other's recipient. 
Neither of us can donate a kidney. We are reaching out to others in the hope that we will find a donor for our mom.
Are you considering being a donor?
If you are interested in donating a kidney to our mother or learning more about this lifesaving process, you may contact Chad Abbott, our mom’s donor coordinator, at U of M, at 734-763-4228. You will need to tell him you would like to be tested as a donor for Patricia Coyle.
The Donation Process
The process by which someone can be tested as a potential live kidney donor can be completely anonymous, if you want: neither we nor our mother will know if you contacted the center, if you were approved or rejected as a donor, or if you are approved as a donor and decide you can’t go through with the process. It is a process that occurs solely between you and the transplant center. Of course, you may also contact us through this Web site if you are considering being a donor.
Even if you are unable to donate a kidney, our family thanks you for taking the time to read about our mother's struggle with Polycystic Kidney Disease. We encourage you to share our Web site with others, in the hopes that we are able to find a donor quickly. Our wish is that more people will consider living organ donation for our mother and the millions like her.
The Kidney Matchmaker
Visit this wonderful Web site created by Chaya Lipschutz, who donated a kidney to a stranger in 2005. There is a tremendous amount of information for potential donors.
Thank you, Chaya for all your help!
http://www.kidneymitzvah.com/
Listen to Our Story on NPR!
On March 11, Patricia and Emily were featured on WGVU West Michigan. To listen to their interview, click here.
Donation Stories
Click on these links to read about recent successful kidney donations. Everyone loves a happy ending!
Ailing man's family finds kidney donor on Craigslist
A Donor Match Over Small Talk and Coffee - New York Times