Kat Phillips' Story

In my late twenties, I was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD).  I lived knowing I had it, but never let it be the center of our lives.  We have had a wonderful life raising our 4 children and enjoying our large, extended family here in Charleston.

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In May of 2013, I turned 50 years old.  I was extremely tired all of the time but I thought that was what 50 meant.  My nephrologist was watching me extremely closely, and saw my kidney function declining rapidly.  By late June, my kidneys were in extreme distress.  I was raising children and continued with daily life, but it was time to start looking for a donor. 

The testing for a match began with my 3 brothers. Dixon, my youngest brother, was a perfect match!  I had my transplant August 28, 2013.  I immediately felt like a new person, with an abundance of energy that I did not realize I had been missing.

I am so very thankful for Dixon donating and for his family realizing that he had been given 2 kidneys so that he could share one of them with me.  The team at MUSC was another huge blessing as they guided us through the process of a living donor transplant.

After founding the Living Donor Institute at MUSC, along with several other families, my husband and I continue to be involved with the endeavor of raising funds and awareness for the purpose of living transplants.  .  We continue to raise awareness of the need for donors and, also, the ease of the process of donating a kidney and we continue to raise money for the MUSC Lee Patterson Allen Transplant Immunobiology Lab, which is making amazing strides in the research on living organ transplants.

Our lives were returned to “normal” thanks to the amazing surgeons at MUSC and my donor, and brother,  Dixon.

Please help us support the Patterson Lab to continue the research so needed.  Our goal is to make this entire process easier on the donor and the recipient.  You donation will be changing the lives of so many people that need a transplant and want a second chance!