In 2016, Teresa was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), a hereditary disorder that causes cysts to develop within the kidneys, causing them to enlarge and eventually lose function. Teresa has strived to live a healthy lifestyle over the last nine years, but the disease has taken a significant toll on her kidneys and she’s now in stage 4 kidney failure. There are only two treatments for people living with kidney failure: dialysis or transplant.
Teresa’s been married to the love of her life for almost 35 years and together they’ve raised two sons and have two precious granddaughters. Her daughter-in-law and three brothers are a huge part of her life, as well as countless friends that are like family to her. She’s actively involved in her church, Hillcrest Baptist, where she and her husband teach the college and career young adult class. Teresa’s worked at Walters State Community College for over 29 years and is currently a tenured English faculty member. Teresa loves people of all ages. She cares for a friend in a nursing home, and visits assisted living residents and homebound church members. She loves children and is helping with the bus ministry bringing children to church service within her community. She’s served as a TN Promise mentor, assisting students with the college enrollment process and traveled to Belize twice on mission trips.
A new kidney will allow Teresa to continue loving and serving those around her. She wants to see her two granddaughters grow up and be a Godly Mimi to them for all her days. She’d like to continue teaching full-time and be a positive influence on the students in her class. With a new kidney, Teresa can be the best wife, mom, sister, and friend to the people that she loves with her whole heart.
To learn more about living kidney donation or start the testing process on Teresa’s behalf, please contact Lanny Martin at the University of Tennessee Medical Center at 865.305.5340 or almartin@utmck.edu. The living donor process is confidential, and Teresa won’t be notified if you contact the transplant team. All costs for testing and surgery are covered by Teresa’s insurance.
Please like, follow, and share Teresa’s story on Facebook at TRANSPLANT 4 TERESA.
If your organization or church would like to have a guest speaker to further explain organ donation, please contact Jennifer Jones at 423.312.7747.
Thank you for considering giving the gift of life through living kidney donation. You could save Teresa’s life or one of the 100,000 people waiting for a kidney transplant.
