Macy was born with a rare genetic condition known as Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD). Those with ARPKD are at an increased risk of developing multiple cysts on their kidneys which can lead to enlargement, and impaired function. 

Because of this condition, Macy and her parents were prepared that one day she would need a kidney transplant. Her parents always wanted to be their daughter’s donor but when she entered kidney failure, testing revealed they were not a match. So, Macy became active on the donor list for two years. “We waited not knowing when the call would come,” recalls Nola, Macy’s mom. “We watched our bright and shiny daughter become quiet and weak.” 

Last October, Macy received the call from her team in the Nephrology department that a kidney was ready for her. “We packed and rushed to Columbus, ready to receive a stranger’s selfless gift,” Nola shares.  

Sara K. Rasmussen, MD, PhD, Surgical Director of Kidney Transplant, and Jaimie D. Nathan, MD, Chief of Abdominal Transplant and Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, performed Macy’s transplant surgery. Since her surgery, Macy has been doing great, and has regained her spark. She is energetic, on the honor roll at school, running, and spending time with friends.  

“It’s a miracle to see how well she is doing, and we are forever grateful,” says Nola. “There is not one day that goes by, where we don’t think about our donor and their loved ones. There are no words to free that family from the grief, but we hope they find comfort in knowing their loved one’s donation provided a second chance at life for our daughter.”