BEFORE SURGERY--Ruth Cain (left) and Rose Boehm.
By Donna M. Love
MISSOULA, Montana--Rose Boehm, 49, a WCG member in Missoula, donated one of her kidneys Jan. 11 to friend and church sister, Ruth Cain, 57, also of the Missoula congregation. Sadly, a blood clot formed and the kidney died and she is again looking for a donor kidney.
Before the operation, Jim Anattol, pastor of the Missoula congregation, said: "What an amazing act of Christian love on Rose's part."
Rose, a homemaker and volunteer emergency medical technician from Philipsburg, Montana, had known of her friend's deteriorating health for several years. Ruth, and her husband, Carl, have lived in Missoula since 1980. Ruth has polycystic kidney disease, a genetic illness that she had known about since childhood. Her condition became serious two years ago when her kidneys shut down.
Ruth started kidney dialysis, a process that cleans the blood in place of the kidneys, in 1998, and was put on a waiting list for a cadaver kidney. After a year of dialysis, Rose accompanied Ruth to a session. She asked Ruth at that time for information on being a living organ donor. The material Ruth gave her was intimidating. She tried to put the thought out of her mind.
As time passed and knowing that she had the same type blood as Ruth's, Rose's thoughts of being a donor for Ruth became stronger. She could no longer ignore her feelings. She told her family what she was thinking about doing. They prayed together and all supported her decision to be a living donor. Ruth's husband, Carl, expressed his gratitude, but told Rose she could back out at any time. He had always hoped a cadaver kidney would come through. "This has made me realize the need for being a organ donor after death," Carl said.
Rose and Ruth checked into the hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, the day before the operation and shared the same room.
Rose and Ruth's operations each took an hour and a half. Within the first day Rose's kidney, now in Ruth, began functioning. Two days after the transplant, however, a blood clot formed in the main artery leading to the kidney. Ruth was returned to the operating room where the doctors tried to remove the clot. They were unable to correct the problem, the kidney died, and Rose's kidney was removed.
In Rose's room it was quiet with a lot of hugs, tears and "we had to try" sighs, but Rose's only regret is that she doesn't have another kidney to give. When the incision healed, which takes about six weeks, she will be able to lead a healthy, normal life with just one kidney. Ruth is again waiting for an available kidney.
BEFORE SURGERY--Ruth Cain (left) and Rose Boehm.
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2000