Following the Signs

Feature Article

Following the Signs An exceedingly generous gift brings three people closer together.

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all it fate, or call it coincidence.

Unlikely as it was, an order for IV dressings, an inspiring sermon and a service video led not only to a bond between two unsuspecting sales reps, it also saved a life.

For years, Atlanta Dental sales & marketing product manager Mike McGuire watched his wife, Anisa, battle polycystic kidney disease – a life-threatening, hereditary disease that has also afflicted her mother and two siblings. “The cysts grow larger and larger and eventually take over the kidneys,” McGuire explains. The optimal solution is a kidney transplant, which is difficult to make happen under any circumstances. Anisa’s Indian heritage, however, made it even more challenging to find a donor with a matching blood type. She faced a three-to-five year wait, he says.

“Anisa began dialysis about a 1 ½ years ago,” says McGuire, noting that dialysis requires the patient to have a temporary port placed in his or her chest – a procedure that can lead to a difficult-to-control infection. “I watched this happen to Anisa’s brother, and I was determined it would not happen to Anisa as well,” he says. So, he placed an order for the IV dressings and some numbing cream through Crosstex. By chance, Crosstex sales rep Marel De Jesus noticed the order and learned of Anisa’s plight. “And so began an incredible chain of events,” he says.

“Marel is young and has two young children to consider,” says McGuire. “It’s difficult for [people] to make such a major decision and we were concerned for her.”

In addition, she had never met Anisa, he

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Anisa McGuire and Marel De Jesus meet for the first time.

Marel (right) donated her kidney to Anisa (left), who battled polycystic kidney disease.

By Laura Thill

Feature Article points out. In fact, he had only met Marel a couple of times. Still, De Jesus couldn’t stop thinking about Anisa’s situation, and how she could help. Then a couple of things happened. First, De Jesus heard a sermon at church about following – and acting upon – signs. Together with the sermon was a video about how others have responded to signs and, by doing so, have helped people in need.

“The video could have been about anything – even donating food to a food pantry,” McGuire points out. “But the video she watched happened to be about a man who donated his kidney to a stranger.” De Jesus was convinced: Helping Anisa was the right thing for her to do. “The signs couldn’t have been more evident,” he says. “Marel couldn’t ignore the action they were prompting her to take.”

provides a safer way to dialyze,” says McGuire. In Anisa’s case, the first fistula was unsuccessful, and the doctors had to follow up with a second procedure.

“It was a difficult time, but Marel entered into the picture about three months after Anisa began dialysis,” says McGuire.

It was overwhelming to think that someone would even consider doing this for his wife, he notes. “I barely knew Marel at the time,” he says. “She left me a voice message. When I didn’t return her call, she called me back and floored me when she said she was donating her kidney.” And, while some people may

A difficult journey As proud as he was of his wife’s strength and perseverance as she battled her illness, it pained him to watch her struggle. “Anisa was on Marel and Anisa, just before the transplant. dialysis three days a week,” McGuire recalls. Throughout it all, she continued to work full time as an executive assistant to the chief clinical officer at the corporate office of a long-term care company, in spite of the scary and debilitating side effects from her illness.

One of her greatest challenges – Mike McGuire was the rate at which her kidneys grew. The oversized kidneys were pushing on Anisa’s other organs, making her even more have good intentions but understandably are not able to foluncomfortable. And, to add insult to injury, well-mean- low through, De Jesus had already contacted Emory University ing people were advising her to exercise and lose weight. Hospital about being tested to see if she was a matching blood “When your spouse is going through this, you feel helpless type with Anisa. “Marel called with the greatest gift we would ever receive. The experience [would] bring us close together.” as you watch [him or her] suffer,” he adds.

Dialysis helped, but even that wasn’t challenge-free. In addition to risks of infection, the proximity of the chest port A twist of fate to the aortic artery is a potential danger. So, three months be- Everything appeared to be on schedule for a June 2012 fore dialysis can begin, the doctors create a fistula – where they kidney transplant. But, when De Jesus’ son became ill, the tie together a vein and an artery – on the patient’s arm. “This procedure had to be placed on hold. Six months later, in

“She left me a voice message. When I didn’t return her call, she called me back and floored me when she said she was donating her kidney.”

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Feature Article

Since the surgery, the McGuire and De Jesus families have met and look forward to celebrating together soon.

“We are better for this experience,” says McGuire.

“It’s been an amazing journey.”

December 2012, De Jesus donated one of her kidneys to Anisa.

“When we returned in December for the transplant, we had a new doctor – Dr. Kirk,” says McGuire.

This physician happened to be involved in research regarding the body’s ability to accept a new kidney. “Twenty patients prior to Anisa had successfully completed the research program,” McGuire says. “Anisa was to be the first patient on the second set of 20 patients approved for his study!”

“She is using a new anti-rejection medicine,” McGuire explains.

Anisa and Mike, celebrating with son Shaz and daughter Karishma.

“These new medications appear to have fewer side effects and may not require the patient to be removed after the transplant surgery – rather than during take them throughout [his or her] life.” That’s great news, the transplant – to help avoid the introduction of bacteria, considering that traditional anti-rejection medications are Anisa’s kidneys were too enlarged to permit her to wait any associated with such side effects as bloating, cancer or kid- longer.) “By the time they were removed, her kidneys were 36 ney failure. “Dr. Kirk’s goal is for his patients to be weaned times their normal size,” says McGuire. “Anisa came out of from these new medications,” he says, adding that it’s all a surgery 35 pounds lighter.” big balancing act. “Anisa still requires monthly anti-rejection therapy, along with oral medication, but it’s less [than she Slow, but steady would require] had she not been involved in the trial. If the Following the transplant, De Jesus has recovered well. As one transplant hadn’t been delayed, we wouldn’t have [been as- might expect, Anisa’s recovery is taking longer, but this time signed to] Dr. Kirk, and Anisa never would have received there’s a bright light at the end of the tunnel. Since the surgery, the McGuire and De Jesus families have met and look these new drugs.”

Within a month of her transplant surgery, Anisa needed forward to celebrating together soon. “We are better for this emergency surgery to remove her old kidneys, which by now experience,” says McGuire. “It’s been an amazing journey.” had become enlarged to a dangerous size, resulting in an in- And when he considers the way it turned out, he asks himself, cisional hernia. (While it is typical for the failed kidneys to “Was this fate, or was it coincidence?” [FI] Editor’s note: For information regarding Emory Healthcare’s kidney donor program, visit http://www.emoryhealthcare.org/transplant-center/index.html?gclid=CKSvgrvvwrYCFRRwnAodAFUAGw. This article has been reprinted with permission from First Impressions Magazine, June 2013.

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