Kidney Transplant Helps Recipient
Becky Dossett has returned to her position as parish secretary at Evansville’s Holy Redeemer Parish after a September kidney transplant. “I’ve always been religious,” Dossett reflected, “but through this experience, I’ve been shown the power of prayer.”
While at a doctor’s appointment for her gallbladder, Dossett’s doctor discovered that she had polycystic kidney disease, a genetic kidney disorder. “I had a choice,” Dossett explained, “to have dialysis for the rest of my life, or to have a kidney transplant.” She chose the transplant.
A few parishioners applied as potential donors, but were deemed incompatible for the procedure. Dossett and her family spread the word to family and friends; throughout the diocese via The Message; and through the internet, hoping to find a match. Hannah Randall, a niece of Dosset’s brother-in-law, saw the news online and applied to be the donor – and she was the match.
Randall, 34, has two children, ages 2 and 4. Dossett asked Randall what made her choose to donate her kidney. “She told me she had a lifelong friend who had died during childbirth,” Dossett recalled. “She said that no one should ever have to go through the pain of losing a loved one.”
Dossett had her kidney transplant on Sept. 4. “My surgery was at IU Health on the IUPUI campus in Indianapolis,” she explained, “and I can’t say enough nice things about those people.” Dossett recalled her night nurse who kept her company while she was in the hospital. “She had just gotten engaged,” Dossett said, “so we talked about her wedding plans, my wedding … everything.”
Not only was Dossett supported at the hospital, but she was supported back at her parish and school through a multitude of prayers. “Every morning, from Sept. 1 through Oct. 3, all the students at the school said a Hail Mary for me,” Dossett smiled. “That’s over 6,900 Hail Marys!”
Holy Redeemer’s prayers have been answered. It’s been three months since the kidney transplant, and Dossett says she couldn’t be more thankful. “I feel great; I have my energy back,” Dossett said. “My color looks better too.” She explained that she was taking anti-rejection drugs, and that she had the shakes due to a medication’s side effect, but that everything was turning out better than she could have hoped. “I take a cocktail of drugs every day, and I have to drink 100 ounces of fluid,” Dossett said. “No carbonated drinks, no caffeine, no alcohol.”
Randall also is doing well following her kidney-donation surgery. “She ran a half-marathon over Thanksgiving,” Dossett explained. “I asked her why she would want to do that. She told me, ‘for the peace and quiet.’”
Because both of her kidneys were polycystic, Dossett will have to have the other one removed in March. “I’ll be back at IU Health,” Dossett said. “Even though I’m a Purdue fan, I guess I’ll be an IU fan for a while!”
