Mother Of 4 Answers Plea For Kidney Donation
By Kathy Walsh
HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. (CBS4) - A mother in Highlands Ranch gave life to four boys. Now, she hopes to save the life of a teenage girl by becoming her living kidney donor. The two connected through a bumper sticker. It's amazing the woman is a match.
Jillian Laplante's story began when she was 5 years old.
"I had an autoimmune disease that attacked both of my kidneys and I went into kidney failure," she told CBS4 Health Specialist Kathy Walsh.
Jillian went on dialysis and waited. At 7 years old, she got a kidney from a young woman who died in a car accident.
"And after that I was just like any normal kid playing sports going to school," the teenager said.
That lasted eight years. But last summer, Jillian's body rejected the kidney. She was back on dialysis, and this time, campaigning for a living donor. Doctors said she had a two percent chance of finding a match.
"It was searching for a needle in a haystack basically, but we found a miracle," Jillian said.
The miracle is Chrissie Smith. She is a mother of four boys living just a few miles away in Highlands Ranch.
"God wants me to do this," Chrissie said.
In October 2015, she saw one of Jillian's bumper stickers that read "Teen Needs Kidney ... Type O Blood." It listed a phone number to call if you were willing to help.
"This thought popped into my head, that's me, I have to call this number," said Chrissie.
That's because, after her mother died of cancer, Chrissie vowed to help someone else live.
"It's the right thing to do," she said.
What does Jillian think of Chrissie?
"She's my hero," she said.
Jillian has advice for others waiting for a transplant. She says never give up, miracles like this unselfish woman can happen.
The transplant is scheduled for April 21.
Chrissie's kidney will be removed at University of Colorado Hospital, put on ice and driven over to Children's Hospital where surgeons will be waiting to give it to Jillian.
Kathy Walsh is CBS4's Weekend Anchor and Health Specialist. She has been with CBS4 for more than 30 years. She is always open to story ideas. Follow Kathy on Twitter @WalshCBS4.
