Cameron Parker
Living Donor Kidney Recipient
Transplant Date: August 1, 2001
Age at Transplant: 20
Home: Ukiah, California


For Cameron Parker, an upper respiratory infection at age 17 ultimately triggered her kidney failure, causing her to face dialysis three years later at age 20. “During my nephrology visits, I saw a lot of people on dialysis and really wanted to avoid it,” says Cameron, officially diagnosed with IgA Nephropathy. Although she was evaluated for a kidney transplant at 18 and placed on the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) waiting list, she still had more time to go before her name was at the top of the list for a cadaveric donor kidney.

“As Cameron's creatinine began climbing and dialysis was impending, I spent endless hours on the phone with the lab and doctors,” says Cameron's mother, Sheryl. “We thought it would be beneficial if Cameron could have a living donor transplant and forego dialysis altogether,” she adds. Although Sheryl wasn't a match for her daughter, other members of her family were tested and Cameron's brother, Chris, was determined a perfect match. “Once I learned that Cameron needed a living donor, I decided to get evaluated,” says Chris. He received blood sample vials that were taken locally and mailed to San Francisco for analysis. Within one month—and several exams later—Chris and Cameron were at California Pacific for surgery.

Going into the transplant, Cameron says she felt very tired and had little energy. “I was more scared for my brother than for myself,” says Cameron. “It wasn't until the day before surgery that I actually started to get nervous.” For Chris, the magnitude of the surgery finally hit him when he went into the operating room. “I wasn't really nervous until I went into the O.R. and then it hit me,” he says. “But minutes later, I was under the anesthesia and the operation began.” Chris underwent a laparoscopic nephrectomy, a less invasive surgery in which the kidney is removed through a small abdominal incision.

Following the kidney removal and transplant, both Cameron and Chris felt pain around their waist, where the incisions were made. Chris returned home four days following his transplant while Cameron was discharged from the hospital after six days. “The anti-rejection medications were harsh at first, but now I'm feeling much better and my kidney function is excellent,” says Cameron. Chris will be off work for one month total with his surgery and recovery, but says he's felt “really good” since one week after the surgery.

Both Cameron and Chris have positive views towards their transplant and donation experience. “It's sentimental to know that my brother's kidney is in me,” says Cameron. “I'm lucky we were a match and would recommend living donation to others considering it.”