Leslie Clements woke up a third of a pound lighter Sept. 2, but her brother, Bill Dougherty, Jr., felt like a huge weight had been lifted from him.
It was that day Clements, of Lake Orion, gave one of her kidneys to Dougherty, freeing him of dialysis, tight diet restrictions, exhaustion and future health deterioration.
‘It’s not just gotten you off the dialysis,? Clements said to her brother. ‘It’s given you a whole life and your outlook too. You’re not chained to the Lapeer hospital anymore.?
Dougherty has endured dialysis three days a week since 2006 because diabetes weakened his kidneys. Clements, whose kidneys operated at 100 percent before giving one up, will now have 80 percent kidney function. Prior to the transplant, Dougherty’s kidneys operated at a mere 10 percent.
‘As soon as I heard he could do it, I was like, oh my gosh I have to do this,? Clements said.
When Dougherty first started dialysis, Clements said the family assumed a transplant wasn’t a possibility. But in reality, Dougherty just didn’t know how to bring the topic up.
‘It’s pretty hard to bring up in conversation,? he said, joking ?’Nice weather we’re having. Will you give me a kidney???
Clements said dialysis is not meant to be a long-term supplement to kidney function. According to the brother and sister, a dialysis patient’s health deteriorates so badly that, after about seven years of treatment, he or she will probably die.
‘We got rid of one obstacle now ? no more dialysis,? said Dougherty. ‘No more getting up every day and sitting in chair for four hours.?
With his newly found freedom, Dougherty says he wants to travel, especially to see his aunt in Florida. And fewer diet restrictions will make him a happier man. Before the transplant, he was limited to 32 ounces of water per day and had to avoid wheat altogether.
When asked why she gave a kidney to her brother, Clements? eyes welled up.
‘Bill’s the big brother,? she said. ‘He’s just a great person. He’s so good with nieces and nephews ? they all love uncle bill. He spoils them big time.?
Clements, an avid runner, says she’ll be back on her feet in six weeks. Dougherty says he’ll be ready to go in a matter of days.
He’ll also travel to Ann Arbor for tests over the next three months to make sure his new kidney is functioning as it should.