Young area mother in need of kidney
Chelsie Dick and husband Pete Janis.
April 1, 2020
Caden Swearingen
Chelsie Dick, 27, of Fairview, is a wife and the mother of three children. In 2014, Dick was diagnosed with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), after the birth of her second child. FSGS is a disease in which scar tissue develops on the parts of the kidneys that filter the waste from the blood.
Dick is currently at the end stages of kidney failure, with her kidney function at 11 percent. It continues to decrease at the rate of 1 percent per month. A transplant is the only cure. Without it, Dick will be forced to go on dialysis until a kidney becomes available.
She faces many dietary restrictions, including the careful measurement of her fluid intake.
"I can only drink thirty two ounces of fluid a day including fluid from food," said Dick.
Both of her children were born prematurely due to her kidney failure.
Kidney failure, however, hasn't stopped her from working.
Dick works at Cassville Walmart, as does her friend, Adriana Franco, of Cassville.
After time spent talking at work, Franco, who had two children of her own, learned that Dick was in kidney failure. It lay heavy on her heart to know that a hardworking young mother was carrying such a load, although they didn't speak of it often.
"I just prayed for her," said Franco.
A few months later, Dick transferred to another store, but the two women kept in contact.
Sometime later, while shopping with her fiance in Rogers, Franco ran into Dick again, and learned that her condition had deteriorated further.
Franco prayed for her every night, wishing there was more she could do.
Days later, she discovered there might be.
She saw a Facebook post created by Dick, asking for a living kidney donor. Included was a link to Mayo Clinic, non profit medical academic center based in Rochester, Minn. Franco immediately started crying, and clicked on the link to fill out a health questionnaire for possible donors.
"I wanted to do whatever I could to help her," Franco said. "She is an amazing woman, and deserves to live a long, beautiful life with her family."
"I talked to my family about what I wanted to do, and they were very supportive of my decision," she added.
Thirty minutes after filling out the form, Franco got a call from a nurse at the Mayo Clinic. The nurse told her she was a good candidate as a kidney donor for Dick, and asked her if she wanted to get tested. She answered yes.
The Mayo Clinic sent a box in the mail to Franco, who took it to Mercy Hospital in Cassville where her blood was drawn, then sent to Mayo Clinic.
Both Dick's and Franco's labs were tested to see if they would fight against each other or work together.
Five days later, Dick transferred back to Cassville Walmart, where she continues to work.
It was the same day Franco got her results back from Mayo Clinic. They told Franco she was a compatible match.
"I instantly started crying happy tears," said Franco.
Franco then went to Mayo Clinic for a battery of tests to make sure she was healthy enough for the surgery. The following four days consisted of twenty-four-hour urine tests, an echocardiogram, a CT scan of the kidney and bladder, a kidney function test, psychological exams, twenty four hour blood pressure monitoring, and classes to explain the surgical process.
"The nurses I met were all amazing and supportive,"said Franco.
At the end of the testing, Franco met with the doctors and nurses to discuss her results. Unfortunately, one her tests didn't meet the required standards, so Franco was ineligible as a donor.
"But," Franco said, "I still want to be a voice for Chelsie and for anyone who wants to get tested in the future."
"We raised money to get me there and I'm so grateful for every single person who helped make the trip happen," she added. "God has a plan for everything and we just need to trust in him."
Dick now has insurance that will help with hospital bills and will cover the cost of the trip for anyone wanting to test in the future.
Through what's called the "Paired Program," even if you're not a direct donor match for Dick, you might be a match for someone else, who has a donor who might be a match for Dick.
"This experience changed my outlook on life," Franco said. "Everything is in God's control and timing."
Just because Franco can't donate her kidney, doesn't mean she can't donate. In the future, Franco plans to help others by donating blood.
To help Chelsie Dick, type A or O blood may be donated, designating her as the recipient.
Prospective kidney donors may visit Mayoclinic.org/livingdonor, then enter "Chelsie Dick" and "04/30/1992."
Fundraisers will be planned at a later date.
Caden Swearingen
Chelsie Dick, 27, of Fairview, is a wife and the mother of three children. In 2014, Dick was diagnosed with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), after the birth of her second child. FSGS is a disease in which scar tissue develops on the parts of the kidneys that filter the waste from the blood.
Dick is currently at the end stages of kidney failure, with her kidney function at 11 percent. It continues to decrease at the rate of 1 percent per month. A transplant is the only cure. Without it, Dick will be forced to go on dialysis until a kidney becomes available.
She faces many dietary restrictions, including the careful measurement of her fluid intake.
"I can only drink thirty two ounces of fluid a day including fluid from food," said Dick.
Both of her children were born prematurely due to her kidney failure.
Kidney failure, however, hasn't stopped her from working.
Dick works at Cassville Walmart, as does her friend, Adriana Franco, of Cassville.
After time spent talking at work, Franco, who had two children of her own, learned that Dick was in kidney failure. It lay heavy on her heart to know that a hardworking young mother was carrying such a load, although they didn't speak of it often.
"I just prayed for her," said Franco.
A few months later, Dick transferred to another store, but the two women kept in contact.
Sometime later, while shopping with her fiance in Rogers, Franco ran into Dick again, and learned that her condition had deteriorated further.
Franco prayed for her every night, wishing there was more she could do.
Days later, she discovered there might be.
She saw a Facebook post created by Dick, asking for a living kidney donor. Included was a link to Mayo Clinic, non profit medical academic center based in Rochester, Minn. Franco immediately started crying, and clicked on the link to fill out a health questionnaire for possible donors.
"I wanted to do whatever I could to help her," Franco said. "She is an amazing woman, and deserves to live a long, beautiful life with her family."
"I talked to my family about what I wanted to do, and they were very supportive of my decision," she added.
Thirty minutes after filling out the form, Franco got a call from a nurse at the Mayo Clinic. The nurse told her she was a good candidate as a kidney donor for Dick, and asked her if she wanted to get tested. She answered yes.
The Mayo Clinic sent a box in the mail to Franco, who took it to Mercy Hospital in Cassville where her blood was drawn, then sent to Mayo Clinic.
Both Dick's and Franco's labs were tested to see if they would fight against each other or work together.
Five days later, Dick transferred back to Cassville Walmart, where she continues to work.
It was the same day Franco got her results back from Mayo Clinic. They told Franco she was a compatible match.
"I instantly started crying happy tears," said Franco.
Franco then went to Mayo Clinic for a battery of tests to make sure she was healthy enough for the surgery. The following four days consisted of twenty-four-hour urine tests, an echocardiogram, a CT scan of the kidney and bladder, a kidney function test, psychological exams, twenty four hour blood pressure monitoring, and classes to explain the surgical process.
"The nurses I met were all amazing and supportive,"said Franco.
At the end of the testing, Franco met with the doctors and nurses to discuss her results. Unfortunately, one her tests didn't meet the required standards, so Franco was ineligible as a donor.
"But," Franco said, "I still want to be a voice for Chelsie and for anyone who wants to get tested in the future."
"We raised money to get me there and I'm so grateful for every single person who helped make the trip happen," she added. "God has a plan for everything and we just need to trust in him."
Dick now has insurance that will help with hospital bills and will cover the cost of the trip for anyone wanting to test in the future.
Through what's called the "Paired Program," even if you're not a direct donor match for Dick, you might be a match for someone else, who has a donor who might be a match for Dick.
"This experience changed my outlook on life," Franco said. "Everything is in God's control and timing."
Just because Franco can't donate her kidney, doesn't mean she can't donate. In the future, Franco plans to help others by donating blood.
To help Chelsie Dick, type A or O blood may be donated, designating her as the recipient.
Prospective kidney donors may visit Mayoclinic.org/livingdonor, then enter "Chelsie Dick" and "04/30/1992."
Fundraisers will be planned at a later date.
Chelsie Dick’s sons, Elijah, 7, and Laben, 5.
