"I went into the hospital the day before Christmas in 2009. Within nine days, my kidneys shut down. I was on two very strong antibiotics and taking them through an IV. I had an infection that spread to my bloodstream. I was very close to death. I actually had a couple of doctors tell me I may not even make it through it.
"I was in the hospital for four months. I went in weighing 154 pounds and came out weighing just over 80 pounds. I still had to go to the hospital morning and night for eight weeks to get antibiotics. I went on dialysis after I got out, and I was on dialysis for almost four years.
"I was on the transplant list for close to two years. A young lady overheard my mother talking about me being sick and she just came out and said, ‘Well, I’ll give her a kidney.’ My mother didn’t even know this lady who said this. That was a God thing. No doubt.
"It turned out that my youngest sister did know her. They went to high school together, but at the time we didn’t know that.
"She didn’t know she knew my sister at the time she talked about donating for me. I was just a stranger to her. But she said God told her to do it. I think she’s a very special young lady. There are no words to describe how I feel for her. She gave me my life back. I have four children. My youngest is 8 and my oldest is 17. I was really worried that I may not even see my grandchildren born, so her act of kindness has changed my whole life.
"Everything is good with me now. My labs have been perfect ever since transplant. I feel good. The difference has been like daylight to dark. Dialysis put years on my life. You could see it in me, and I could definitely feel it. I’ve had numerous people tell me that since I’ve gotten off dialysis and had a transplant that I look 15 to 20 years younger. I feel that way most days now, too.
"My weight has come back, too. I weighed 105 pounds when I had my transplant, and I weighed 137 at my last checkup.
"I’m very grateful — grateful to the staff at UAB and the different ways they have to help people, including those with financial difficulties. I wouldn’t have been able to stay there the time I needed to if it wasn’t for the Townhouse. Even the meal tickets were a blessing.
"UAB was wonderful. I’ve told everyone I’ve come in contact with how positive my experience has been — from the doctors and nurses all the way to the people that came in and cleaned my room. Everyone, I mean everyone, was so friendly and nice to me. It’s hard to put into words how much you appreciate that when you’re so sick."
Susan Miller - 2
"Everyone, I mean everyone, was so friendly and nice to me. It’s hard to put into words how much you appreciate that when you’re so sick."