Chilton nurse Denise Johnson, RN, at left, donated a kidney to her 27-year-old son, Kevin Sisco.
(Photo courtesy of Chilton Hospital)
Nurses are used to caring for patients on a daily basis. For an OR nurse at Chilton Hospital in Pompton Plains, N.J., her caring for a family member went well beyond her daily work.
Denise Johnson, RN, donated a kidney April 3 to her 27-year-old son, Kevin Sisco, a process that began after he had his wisdom teeth removed. He experienced a bad reaction, which included vomiting and dehydration.
Sisco was admitted to Chilton, where he was treated in the ED, the ICU and the pediatrics unit. He was diagnosed with kidney failure and learned he was in desperate need of a transplant.
Johnson and her son went through the New Jersey chapter of The Sharing Network to search for a donor, knowing the process could take several years. However, Johnson stepped in and donated because her son’s health was at stake.
"They test for six proteins," she said in a news release. "People inherit three from each parent. The expectation was that I’d be a three-out-of-six match, which is OK, and they would give Kevin extra anti-rejection drugs. However, I matched five out of six, so it worked out well."
It took three months from the beginning of testing until the transplant, which took place via laparoscopic incision at a different hospital. Johnson was out of work for eight weeks, but she said it was a small price to pay for ensuring her son’s well-being.
Although she was the one who donated the organ, Johnson credits Chilton for saving her son’s life when his health initially declined.
"What I liked best about Chilton was the atmosphere," Sisco said.
Sisco has made a full recovery and volunteers at The Sharing Network. He also advocates for local residents to register to become organ donors. Sisco is planning to visit a Rutgers University blood drive to speak to students about how to register.
Sisco, who is blind, is a computer whiz who plans to start a consulting business.
"I’ve used many different methods to fix peoples’ computers," he said. "I can help over the phone, and I have a program that speaks whatever is on the screen."
Johnson’s 26-year-old daughter, Jessica Sisco, is also blind. She attends Georgian Court University, Lakewood, N.J., where she is majoring in social work. Although blindness is hereditary, the family is thankful Sisco’s kidney failure is not, Johnson said.
FOR INFORMATION about The Sharing Network, call 800-SHARE-NJ or visit DonateLifeNJ.org.
Denise Johnson, RN, donated a kidney April 3 to her 27-year-old son, Kevin Sisco, a process that began after he had his wisdom teeth removed. He experienced a bad reaction, which included vomiting and dehydration.
Sisco was admitted to Chilton, where he was treated in the ED, the ICU and the pediatrics unit. He was diagnosed with kidney failure and learned he was in desperate need of a transplant.
Johnson and her son went through the New Jersey chapter of The Sharing Network to search for a donor, knowing the process could take several years. However, Johnson stepped in and donated because her son’s health was at stake.
"They test for six proteins," she said in a news release. "People inherit three from each parent. The expectation was that I’d be a three-out-of-six match, which is OK, and they would give Kevin extra anti-rejection drugs. However, I matched five out of six, so it worked out well."
It took three months from the beginning of testing until the transplant, which took place via laparoscopic incision at a different hospital. Johnson was out of work for eight weeks, but she said it was a small price to pay for ensuring her son’s well-being.
Although she was the one who donated the organ, Johnson credits Chilton for saving her son’s life when his health initially declined.
"What I liked best about Chilton was the atmosphere," Sisco said.
Sisco has made a full recovery and volunteers at The Sharing Network. He also advocates for local residents to register to become organ donors. Sisco is planning to visit a Rutgers University blood drive to speak to students about how to register.
Sisco, who is blind, is a computer whiz who plans to start a consulting business.
"I’ve used many different methods to fix peoples’ computers," he said. "I can help over the phone, and I have a program that speaks whatever is on the screen."
Johnson’s 26-year-old daughter, Jessica Sisco, is also blind. She attends Georgian Court University, Lakewood, N.J., where she is majoring in social work. Although blindness is hereditary, the family is thankful Sisco’s kidney failure is not, Johnson said.
FOR INFORMATION about The Sharing Network, call 800-SHARE-NJ or visit DonateLifeNJ.org.
To comment, email editorNJ@nurse.com.
