02/01/2022
Kay’s Story:
Kay grew up in the mountains of East Tennessee, a place that she still calls home. After graduating high school, she began training at Blount Memorial Hospital to become an x-ray technician, and continued working there for the next 45+ years. She was (and still is!) beloved by many people at Blount Memorial, because she was always going the extra mile to bring comfort to the patients in her care. ♥️
In 2019, Kay was forced to retire from her career in radiology, due to a sudden onset of pulmonary fibrosis. Overnight, she went from working 50+ hours a week, caring for patients, to suddenly become a patient herself, bedridden and dependent on an oxygen tank. The doctors told her that a lung transplant would be her only hope of survival.
Fast forward to 2020: a lung was found!! 🙌🏻
Kay was airlifted to Vanderbilt Medical Center and the transplant was performed. It was successful!! After a lengthy recuperation in Nashville, Kay returned home to East Tennessee and was able to enjoy a life free of oxygen tanks.
Unfortunately, things began to get worse in 2021. Sadly, the multiple anti-rejection medications that Kay takes to keep her new lung functioning, have caused her kidneys to fail. Her specialists at Vanderbilt have advised her that finding a LIVING KIDNEY DONOR is her best chance for survival. Kay has already met all of the transplant recipient requirements, she just needs a donor!
Kay is a very selfless and giving person. She helps strangers. She helps her friends, family and neighbors. She loves nature and up until recently, was an avid hiker in the Great Smoky Mountains, completing many trails. ⛰
She loves all animals 🐈🐕🦺🐇🐿🦡🐖🐄🐎.
She’s a huge Saturday Night Live fan!😂😂
She’s a good cook and makes some of the best sourdough bread outside of San Francisco! 🍞
If Kay’s story has in any way, touched your heart, please click on the “SIGN UP” button, to direct you to the Vanderbilt donor application! Thank you!
