Kevin White knew the day he’d need a kidney transplant was coming. Over the past few decades, high blood pressure had damaged his kidneys. He was on dialysis, and his kidneys were only functioning at 10%. He was also diabetic. His father had undergone a kidney transplant in the 1970s, and his brother is currently on the waiting list for a kidney transplant.
What did surprise Kevin, a 61-year old former FBI agent and now a government contractor, was when Peter Abrams, MD, a pancreas transplant surgeon at MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute, recommended he have a combined kidney/pancreas transplant.
“Dr. Abrams said that when you have diabetes and just get a kidney transplant, the immunosuppression drugs you take after the transplant often make your diabetes more difficult to manage, so a combined transplant was the best approach. And getting a kidney and pancreas transplant at the same time would mean a much shorter time on the waiting list,” he explains.
Adds Dr. Abrams, “A combined transplant is the quickest way off dialysis. Typical wait times for a kidney transplant can be five years or more, while the wait time for a combined kidney/pancreas transplant is frequently around six months.”
The new pancreas cures the diabetes, so patients no longer need insulin and other medications. And the new kidney means they no longer need dialysis. The end result is a significantly higher quality of life.
After completing the transplant evaluation process, Kevin was placed on the waiting list. In less than a year, he had his transplant, and his life was transformed.
“It’s like night and day, like I was born again,” Kevin says. “I used to get dizzy walking from the Metro to work and had to constantly watch my blood sugar levels. I’m a fiercely independent person, and now it feels great that I can work on my house or mow the grass without stopping to drink glucose to keep my blood sugar on an even keel.” Another benefit for Kevin is he is no longer on dialysis. Often, a person with end-stage kidney disease can spend up to 12 hours a week on dialysis. “Before my transplant, I adapted to having to spend time in dialysis and time recuperating after dialysis. But I’m so happy to have that time back,” says Kevin.
Now that he’s had his COVID-19 vaccines and booster, Kevin is putting that time to good use, planning his wedding, DJing on the weekends, going out to eat, enjoying live music, and planning trips he and his fiancée want to take after the pandemic.
Kevin also has some helpful advice for others who need a transplant. “Be your own advocate and ask questions. Know all the members of your medical team,” he says. “Get your infrastructure in place so you’re ready when an organ is available. Think about finances, disability leave at work, and who can help you with chores during your recovery. Create your at-home support team as soon as you complete your evaluation and you’ll be well prepared when you have your transplant.”
Visit MedStarHealth.org/Transplant to learn more about kidney/pancreas transplants. To schedule an appointment with one of our specialists, call 202-444-3701.
Watch Dr. Peter Abrams answer questions about curing diabetes with pancreas and kidney/pancreas transplant.