Hadley Twp.- Parents give children life everyday. It isn’t often a child gets to return the favor.
Brigitte Wiese gave birth to her daughter, Renee, 46 years ago. Less than two months ago, Renee Tucker saved her mother’s life by giving her a kidney.
‘I told her, ‘I carried you for nine months and now I will carry your kidney for however long the good Lord has in store for me,? Wiese said. ‘We’re never far apart.?
Tucker, a Brandon Township resident, has always been close to her mom. When she learned her mother’s kidneys were failing after years of battling diabetes, Tucker stepped up.
‘Even before we went to Beaumont (Hospital), we were in the kitchen and I said, ‘If we match, you will take one of my kidneys,?? recalled Tucker. ‘We didn’t understand even at that time there are so few kidneys.?
Wiese didn’t want to take her daughter’s kidney.
‘I kept thinking, ‘What if she becomes a diabetic and needs it? She has two kids.??
Wiese’s kidneys had been deteriorating for years. Her doctor had at one point told her that her body only made enough insulin for a person weighing 120 pounds. She took pills in an effort to control the diabetes and then gave herself insulin shots for years. For the past three years, she has had an insulin pump and has seen a specialist, with her kidneys functioning at only 25 percent. Her diet was severely restricted, with no dairy or whole grains, since her kidneys couldn’t flush them well, and limited sugar.
With changes in her diet, Wiese’s creatinine levels began improving and she avoided dialysis or being placed on the transplant list. But in September, her health began declining and her creatinine levels were rising. They learned Wiese could be on a transplant list for 5-6 years.
Tucker insisted she be tested to see if she could donate her kidney. She underwent numerous physical tests in December and January. A final test was a CAT scan of her kidneys to see if there were cysts or anything that would make her ineligible. A nurse called to give her the news.
‘She said, ‘You’re good to go,?? Tucker remembered. ‘I was very quiet. For her to say ‘We’re here,? I had to digest it. It wasn’t months anymore.?
On Feb. 20, mother and daughter arrived at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. Tucker was put in one cubicle and her mom was in the next. Wiese began crying. Her daughter comforted her.
‘I said, ‘It will be OK. Imagine tonight, everything will be better. We’ve come this far, we’re not backing out now. I’m already stuck with needles,?? Tucker said.
Wiese smiles and calls herself a big crybaby, but explains, ‘I was more scared for her than myself. At my age, I’ve lived most of my life.?
Tucker’s husband, Tom, also was worried about health risks, but she was confident. Her kids, Chris, 24, and Kyle, 21, were supportive.
‘If you are in basic good health, you will never have any issues from this at all,? she said. ‘Just take good care of yourself and if you don’t feel well, get checked right away.?
Tucker spent just five days in the hospital. The most difficult thing for her was not being able to eat anything except ice chips during that time. Her mom was home within a week.
‘I feel good that everything worked out and I was able to help her,? said Tucker. ‘I hope she’ll have many good years with this kidney and she won’t have to worry.?
Wiese notes that doctors have told her she can live many years with a kidney from a living related donor.
‘They said I can live 20 years and I started adding years,? laughs the 68-year-old Wiese. ‘I think it was wonderful what she did. I appreciate it very much.?
Before Tucker gave her kidney to her mom, they would talk two to three times a week. Now, she calls her nearly every day and always asks the same question, she said.
‘I ask, ‘How’s my kidney doing today???