 Today,
Kirsten is a new mom who is on the run from the crack
of dawn until late at night, working full-time and taking
care of her family in Wheaton, Ill. But it wasn't always
that way.
"In
the fall of 1994, I was finishing my last semester of
college. Even though I was only 23, I had to nap all
the time. I figured it was because I was commuting up
to Northern Illinois University, planning a wedding
and working at an internship at the same time. But I
was going downhill slowly enough to not realize how
bad I felt," she said.
By
the time Kirsten came to Loyola University Health System
(Loyola), tests showed that her kidneys were only working
at 30 percent. A transplant was needed. Kirsten's mother
and sister were both found to be matches, and her mom
decided to become the donor.
"We
joked that she gave me life twice," Kirsten said.
Kirsten
and her husband Vinni were married in March 1995. A
month later, she underwent a kidney transplant and found
that not only had she gained a husband, but she also
had received a new life and new energy.
On
March 9, 2000, Kirsten's family celebrated "Kidney
Day."
"I
always call my mom and send her flowers on Kidney Day,"
she said.
Kidney
Day is extra special this year because son Dominick
will be seven months old.
"Loyola
was wonderful to me," Kirsten said. "The doctors
and staff remembered me and kept in touch. And when
I had my baby at Loyola, Dr. Lewis came by to see us
with the rest of the staff. They have always been a
huge support and willing to talk when things were hard."
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