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November 12, 2009

Friends For Life

When Sherri Bright needed a life-saving transplant, all she had to do was ask her friend for help.

By Tiffany Green The Cullman Times

CULLMAN — Sherri Bright was born with and has suffered most of her life from a genetic disease called polycystic kidney disease. When the time came for her to need a kidney transplant, Sherri did not have to look far.

The genetic disease is characterized by the growth of numerous cysts in the kidneys. The cysts can enlarge the kidneys and, over a period of time, lead to kidney failure.

But Sherri knows all to well the struggles of this disease. It not only took the life of her father, but her older sister suffered and had a successful kidney transplant a few years ago.

“We have known since I was 16 that I would eventually have to possibly have a kidney transplant,” Sherri said. “We know my youngest daughter has it also.”

Sherri met who would come to be her “BFF” at work. The two had met years before, but had really became friends while working together. The two struggled through the usual ups and down’s of any friendship, and when the time came for a true test of their friendship, they were ready for whatever life was dealing them.

In 2005, Sherri began to go downhill fast. During the time when Sherri’s health began to deteriorate, she knew the time for a kidney transplant was near.

“My kidney function had gone down so far, they were going to have to start dialysis,” she said.

About a year ago, the process began of looking for a match. Several family members and friends west through the testing process, when a few came back as a possible match.

“Tine told me she wanted to be tested and she came back as a positive match,” Sherri said.

The results came back that Tina was the closest match. More tests were done on Tina to be sure she could go through surgery. Thus began the physically and emotionally draining process of doctors visits and tests.

When Tina filled out a questionnaire for the hospital, on the question that said relation, she knew exactly what to put.

“We are BFF’s,” she laughed.

“Tine had to go through a whole bunch of tests,” Sherri said. “She was stressed to the max.”

Then surgery day came, Sept. 25, 2009.

“I wasn’t worried until the end,” Tina said. “I was stressed about the what-ifs.”

After Tina’s five hour surgery and Sherri’s eight hour surgery, both were doing great.

“As soon as it was hooked up, it went right to work. Recovery wasn’t that bad,” Sherri said. “I got up early the next morning and was walking around.”

Tina on the other hand had a more difficult recovery, associated with a lot of sickness, she believes came from the anesthesia.

“I didn’t get out of bed until Sunday,” she said. “But looking back, I would do it again if I had to.”

Tina knows the friendship was meant to be.

“We said it was meant to be by God,” she said. “It never crossed my mind not to do it, but I did get gray hair from all the worry.”

Both women were in the hospital for only a few days. Tina is back at work and Sherri will soon be.

Sherri will face an additional surgery in a few months to remove her diseased kidneys.

Sherri said she can see and feel a change in her body and feels great.

The two like to remember the verse, John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man that this…that a man lay down his life for a friend.”



 ‰ Tiffany Green can be reached by e-mail at tgreen@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 220.



 

 

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