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January 10, 2000
Kidney transplant is all in the familySister donateskidney to brotherBy GUY PRIEL Journal Staff Writer NEW ULM -- As the sun rose on the beginning of a new year, one local family is breathing a little easier knowing one of their own received the ultimate gift, the gift of life. Duane Weisensel, 41, received a kidney from his sister, LeAnn Jensen of Springfield, on Jan. 5 at Fairview University Hospital in Minneapolis. Weisensel, an employee of Randall's in the meat department, was diagnosed with diabetes in 1976. He suffered from various health problems as a result. He had laser eye surgery a few years ago and is still awaiting a pancreas transplant. "The entire process began in about August last year (1998), when I was told my kidney was failing as a result of diabetes," Weisensel said. In May he went to Fairview University Hospital to find out how to begin the process of getting a kidney transplant. Several medical tests are needed, and compatibility of donor and recipient must be determined. "We ran into complications in October when I was told my heart was not in good enough shape for the transplant to be a success," he said. "They cleared some blockage and were eventually able to get everything up to where it needed to be for the surgery." All of Weisensel's seven brothers and sisters were willing to donate a kidney so he could get off dialysis, the medical procedure which performs the function normally done by the kidneys. However, his oldest sister was disqualified because of prior kidney problems. Jensen, who works as a nursing assistant at St. John Lutheran Home in Springfield, volunteered to be tested as the potential donor about six months ago. "They could have put his name on a transplant list, and he would have waited until a match was found," Jensen said. "Family is the best match for something like this. The closer the match, the less medication he will have to take to ward off organ rejection." Although Jensen proved a close match, she received the news with mixed emotions. "It was kind of like I was real glad I matched, but I wasn't sure I was glad I matched when I thought about it," she said. "It was the right thing to do, though. He would have done the same thing for one of us." Jensen returned home from the hospital Saturday. She is still sore on her side and must return to the hospital in six weeks for more testing to ensure her remaining kidney is functioning properly. "I was real glad to hear that the transplant worked right away," she said. She knew her brother needed the transplant to live without the dialysis treatments. Weisensel could be released from the hospital as early as this afternoon. During the next four weeks he will undergo blood tests and continue to take anti-rejection medication. The doctors left Weisensel's kidneys intact, performing the surgery through his abdomen, rather than through his back. "LeAnn's kidney was placed in front by the pelvic bone, closer to the bladder," Weisensel said. "So I essentially have three kidneys. (The transplant) is functioning really well." He looks forward to returning home to his family, who supported him through the preparation and transplant process. "They never had a negative thought throughout the entire procedure," Weisensel said. "We all had high hopes it would work out OK." He never placed any pressure on anyone in the family to become a donor, and he could never ask. It had to be their own decision, he said. "I am very glad things are working out," Weisensel said. "I thank her very much for what she has done. Words can never express how I feel."
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