Joann Wellman is hoping for a living kidney donor. Joann, 67, and her husband Michael live in Frewsburg, NY. “We have two amazing children and one beautiful granddaughter, who live in Washington,” Joann said.
Joann was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) at a young age. She received her first transplant in March 2012. Her native kidneys were removed in August 2017. Things have been slowly declining and Joann has been on dialysis since July of 2020.
Joann enjoys traveling to spend time with family and also likes to cook and bake for her loved ones. “Being outside kayaking, gardening, and working in the woods used to be some of my favorite things to do,” she explained in her profile on the Kidney Connection website. “Since starting dialysis, I have struggled to find the energy to do many of my favorite activities and hobbies.”
Dialysis has also severely limited the amount of traveling Joann can do to see family members. She said, “The blessing of a donor would allow me the freedom to travel, see family, watch my youngest daughter get married, and hopefully meet more grandchildren!”
Joann added, “I have experienced the empowering benefit of a live donor once, and know just how fortunate I would be to find the lucky match for transplant number two. The blessings of this are not lost on me, and I hope that someone finds it within themselves to go through the process to be this second chance for me!”
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Adapted from Joann’s story at kidneyconnection.org. She has Blood Type 0. You can contact Joann by using the form under her story at kidneyconnection.org or by emailing jlw1208 [at] gmail [dot] com
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