Franklin woman donates kidney to best friend; encourages others to become donors

FRANKLIN, Ky. – Most of us know February 14th for Valentine’s Day, but did you know today is also National Donor Day? 

 

Many friends say they’re attached at the hip or share a brain, but when Franklin woman April Sermons says she’d give you a kidney if you need it, she means it literally.

 

When April found out her best friend Denita Brady needed a kidney, she secretly got tested, and she was a 98 percent match. 

 

Last December 16th, April donated a kidney to her friend, and two months later, she still says it’s a decision she’ll never regret.

 

“It truly has been an absolute blessing. The whole entire thing has been so great,” said April. 

 

Denita’s recovery has been incredible. She hasn’t needed post-op dialysis, her kidney disease has backed up to stage 2, she’s decreased and stopped her medicines and is getting stronger every day.  

 

“Truly I’m just so excited to watch her get her life back,” April said of her friend. “It makes me really emotional to be able to see her be the person that she used to be and get that spark back.” 

 

Med Center Health director of health information management Georgena Brackett said they’re trying to increase awareness about organ donation, because 17 people die every day because no organs become available. 

 

Brackett said right now there are over 106,000 in the U.S. waiting on the organ waitlist transplant list. 

 

“One organ donor can save up to eight lives, but an eye and tissue donor can save up to 75 lives, so when you think about all that anatomy and the potential it has save so many lives futuristically, it’s pretty special,” said Brackett.

 

April hopes she can plant the seed of joining the living donor program in people’s minds. To those debating the selfless act, she says, “Pray about it, pray about it pray about it…and follow your heart. Follow your gut… We have spare parts, people! Let’s get them to somebody that needs them!” 

 

It only takes seconds to become an organ donor or a living organ donor. Just go to organdonor.gov, and in a few clicks you’ll be registered.