BATTLE GROUND Wash. (KPTV) – A Battle Ground teenager is spending his senior year of high school searching for a kidney donor. He’s the second child in his family to need a kidney replacement after his older brother, Justin Carey, was nearly killed in a hit-and-run more than 10 years ago.
Jackota Salmi, a senior at Battle Ground High School, remains in high spirits despite his illness.
“I’m hopeful,” Jackota said.
Jackota likes to laugh and helps at his family’s shaved ice company. He plans to study business. But right now, his search for a kidney is top of mind.
“When Jackota was 10 years old, he was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. That was kind of shocking, we didn’t have that in our family, we didn’t know where that came from,” said Janette Chumley, Jackota’s mother.
The diagnosis would just be the first challenge for this family.
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In 2013, Jackota’s older brother, Justin, was 16 years old when he was hit by a driver on meth and THC while waiting for the school bus. The driver sped away, leaving Justin in a ditch. It took 90 minutes for someone to see him. That good Samaritan saved Justin’s life, but during months of recovery, his leg was amputated.
It was after this trauma that FSGS, or sclerosis of the kidney, was discovered in Justin too, and a genetic link to kidney disease was found in the two brothers.
“Up until a little bit before Justin had his, I didn’t quite grasp the gravity because I was still pretty young at the time. It was after that I got a glimpse into what my future would look like. Granted, the process isn’t always the same, but I still got to look ahead and I started to take things more seriously,” Jackota said.
Five years ago this week, Jackota watched his older brother receive a kidney transplant after a year on the waitlist, but Jackota’s journey is different.
“The important part of getting a living donor is longevity,” Jackota said.
Because of his age, Jackota needs a living donation. A kidney from a deceased organ donor would require him to have several more frequent transplants in his life rather than two.
“Eventually, if I live up to 50 – since I’m 19 right now – I’d need to get another transplant around 50. That would last me probably the rest of my life,” Jackota said.
Other than the scarring in his kidney, Jackota is a healthy kid. But if he doesn’t get this transplant, he will begin dialysis treatment.
“Dialysis is like, really, really sick,” Chumley said. “The doctors, the team are hoping he can find a kidney first before we have to go that route.”
“That’s another reason why getting a living donor would be very important, as it would essentially allow me to skip the process of dialysis,” Jackota added.
Justin has recovered from his transplant and remains healthy. His family wants the same future for Jackota.
“When Justin was on the list, we just prayed he would give us a donor in time and it was literally the week before Justin had to go on dialysis, we got the call,” Chumley said. ”So we believe in God’s faithfulness and I know that he’ll send us the perfect person for Jackota as well.”
To be a donor, the person needs to be in good health, at least 21, and have an O blood type:
Learn about OHSU’s living kidney donation process hereLearn about financial assistance available for donors here
The recovery is generally one to two months before life can resume as normal.
If you think you may be a match for Jackota, you can contact Janette Chumley at timetothrive@icloud.com.
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