West Van woman gets new lease on life from

SHARON JAMESON has two — her own — are just going goodnight to my children,” said almost unfunctionable when pco-
three kidneys. along for the ride. Jameson, 49. . ple are between 40 to 45 years old.
Jameson is one of more than The West Vancouver resident “When I think of my father ¢@ People have to be

By Anna Marie D'Angelo 900 British Columbians who have received a kidney transplant on who died at the age of 42 in 1956

9 transplanted kidneys. Jan. 27, 1992 at St. Paul's Hospi- .... They honestly didn’t know aware that it isa
News Reporter “Before | had my transplant, tal. what he had. They tried some . .
my energy level was so low that ! Jameson has a_ hereditary kind of crude method of dialysis quality of life that
One of them works, the other couldn't go up the stairs and say disease that renders kidneys on him,’ said Jameson. . wk

_ “Pye known that Pve had it for they are giving

more than 25 years, because J] am ,
so. much like my father,’’ said somebody... It's a

Jameson. °
Jameson has two teenage rebirth. 99
children who have a 50% chance .
of inheriting polycystik kidney - Sharon Jameson

disease, which does not show
outward signs until middle age.

The usual wait for a kidney Her body would reject the do-
transplant for someone in good nated kidney in a week if she
health (besides kidney problems) is didn’t take the medication.

three to five years, but Jameson Jameson doesn't know who do-
was lucky and received her nated the kidney.

transplant after being on the ‘People have to be aware that
waiting list two months. it is a quality of life that they are

“Of course, you have had ma-_ giving somebody... It’s a rebirth,”’
jor surgery, but I felt good. I was said Jameson.
so hungry. I hadn’t (really) eaten ‘*When | was going to the O.R,
for two years,’’ said Jameson. (operating room), I was thinking

She said while in hospital, an of all the things — my father ... |
adult woman received two kidneys was happy and excited and reliev-
that were donated from a baby. ed. And throughout this whole

Jameson’s donated kidney is thing I thought of the sadness
located on the left side of the these people were going through
pelvic area in the front of her right at that very minute... What
body. Her own non-functioning a tremendous decision they gave
kidneys are still in her lower back to give me the fullness of life,’
area, said Jameson.

She said her kidney is supposed The B.C. branch of the Kidney
to last indefinitely unless she stops Foundation of Canada is conduct-

KIDNEY TRANSPLANT recipient Sharon Jameson has a lot of energy these days for such activities ‘aking immuno-suppressants (an- ing a door-to-door canvass for
as organizing people for Kidney Foundation canvassing this month. ti-rejection drugs). donations until the end of March,

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NEWS photo Paul McGrath

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