Some of her patients (she’s an obstetrician and gynecologist) were also suffering from problems with their kidneys.
But it wasn’t until Cara’s friend became a living kidney donor that the Menomonie, Wisconsin, woman began seriously considering taking the same path herself. “I’m healthy, and I don’t have a strong family history of conditions that would affect my kidneys,” she said. “I saw that the surgery wasn’t difficult for my friend, and I thought, I can do this.”
Cara first reached out to the living kidney donation team at UW Health Transplant Center in January 2022—with the understanding that she didn’t want to donate until 2023. She was training for a marathon in December 2022, and she wanted to get that behind her before undergoing a major surgery.
“It’s very easy to undergo testing for being a living donor,” Cara said. They set every appointment up in one day—transplant surgeon, nephrologist, dietitian, psychologist, labs and imaging—so you don’t have to come back for another visit.”
After going through a few follow-up tests, Cara was approved to be a kidney donor in mid-January 2023—and about a week later, she was matched with a recipient. Her surgery date was Feb. 14, 2023.
After she donated, Cara learned that her surgeon, Dr. Josh Mezrich, had written a book on being a transplant surgeon that she had bought after hearing him talk on National Public Radio. She felt it was kismet that he was her transplant surgeon.
“I had a wonderful experience at University Hospital,” she said. “I received all the care that I needed.”
She waited the recommended eight weeks after her surgery to undergo any strenuous activity. Then, two weeks later, she participated in a half-marathon—alternating between running and walking. A year later, she ran the Boston Marathon. “Sometimes, I almost forget that I donated a kidney,” she said.
Cara is grateful for the living donor voucher program—as an altruistic donor, she can name five people who would receive priority, should they ever need a kidney transplant. Her husband has kidney disease, and while he likely won’t require a transplant, she’s glad to have the option—just in case.
“It’s nice to have that back-up plan,” she said.