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A Des Moines woman is working desperately to secure her husband’s second kidney transplant in four years.
Jessica Ramirez, a mother of four, is going above and beyond to spread the message for her husband in Des Moines and Iowa. Residents may see her driving a Chevrolet Tahoe with a message written on the back of her back windshield: “My loved one needs a kidney. He is type O.”
In addition to using her car to spread the message, Ramirez also used social media, posted several flyers at stop signs around the city, and wore a shirt to work that said her husband needed a kidney. are doing.
Despite two months of searching for a second kidney, family remains confident they will find one
Ramirez said he has been looking for a donor for more than two months without success, and the situation remains difficult. Despite her lack of luck, she remains optimistic.
“We were depressed the last few days, but we weren’t defeated,” Ramirez said.
Ramirez said this is not the first time the couple has faced difficulties. In 2020, her husband suffered health complications and underwent a transplant, but it didn’t last long.
Despite her illness, her husband, Gardino Ramirez, works full time to support their four children: a 15-year-old daughter, a 12-year-old son, a 10-year-old daughter and a 7-year-old son. -Eldest son.
“I want him to have the best quality of life,” Jessica Ramirez said. “I want my kids to have the best version of their father, and that requires the best version of me too. I’m sure we can get there.”
What is kidney disease?
According to the National Kidney Foundation, kidney disease, also known as chronic kidney disease, is a condition in which the kidneys are severely damaged to the point that they lose their ability to filter blood and keep the body healthy.
According to the foundation, kidney disease affects an estimated 37 million people in the United States, or about 15% of the adult population. As the disease progresses, waste products may accumulate in the blood.
According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of loss of kidney function include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, muscle spasms, fatigue, chest pain, and high blood pressure.
How many people are waiting for a kidney in Iowa?
There are 613 people on the waiting list for organ donation in Iowa, said Heather Butterfield, director of strategic communications for the Iowa Donor Network. Of the 613 people on that list, 537 are waiting for a kidney donation.
The Iowa Donor Network is a nonprofit organization that serves as the state’s primary point of contact for organ, tissue, and eye donation services.
“There are more than 100,000 people on the waiting list across the country, the vast majority of whom need a kidney transplant,” Butterfield said.
In 2023, 192 kidney transplants will be performed in Iowa, including 130 from deceased donors and 62 from living donors, Butterfield said.
What can I do if I want to donate my kidney?
There are several ways a person can donate during their lifetime to help people like Jessica Ramirez’s husband.
Butterfield said one option would be to donate directly. Direct donation is the act of finding someone you know who needs a kidney and donating your kidney directly to that person.
Another option would be altruistic donations, she says. Altruistic donation, also known as anonymous donation, is the act of donating a kidney to a stranger.
“Just wanting to donate is not enough,” Butterfield said. “You have to be a match.”
To help Ramirez, potential donors should contact the transplant center where he is registered, Butterfield said. For Ramirez, that’s the Iowa Methodist Transplant Center, 515-241-4044.
Jose Mendiola is a breaking news reporter for the Register. Please contact [email protected].
