Woman reinvigorated after kidney transplant

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Friday, November 13, 1998

BY MARIE McCAIN
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Beverly Seay and daughter BeverLeigh before the transplant (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM | | Oct. 29 story |

FOREST PARK - Two weeks after receiving a kidney from her daughter, Beverly Seay is learning to walk again.

"I feel so much better," she said Thursday. "Before, I felt so tired that even putting on my clothes was a chore. Now I have energy that wasn't there before and I feel like I want to do things."

The 58-year-old Forest Park woman's kidneys shut down as a result of her 30-year battle with diabetes.

Beverly's four children, Kimetha, 42, Gregory, 37, Gigi, 35, and Randall, 29, all wanted to give their mother a kidney. Gigi was the most compatible.

Both women are recuperating and trying to adjust to life, each with just one kidney.

"I see how healthier my mother is and how better she feels," Gigi said Thursday. "I have no regrets. I'm so glad I did it and thankful that I could. God has really blessed us and now He's healing us." Beverly is getting around with a walker. She takes about 12 different kinds of medication, said Frank Seay, her husband.

"The pills. The pills," he said with a heavy sigh.

A majority of the medicine is keeping her body from rejecting the new kidney. Doctors will wean her from most of it.

"I'll have to take two kinds of pills for the rest of my life," Beverly said. She still has diabetes and will have to take insulin for the rest of her life.

Gigi is not as encumbered in her recovery as her mother, taking only painkillers when needed.

Gigi has lost five pounds and Beverly has lost 17.

"I can deal with that," said Beverly. "I used to have such a hard time breathing. Now, I just feel wonderful."

Beverly has to make three weekly trips to the hospital to have blood drawn. Medical experts use the blood to monitor organ rejection levels.

"Each time I've been told that the blood work is excellent," Beverly said. "I'm just grateful. Gigi is a real trouper and I just thank God that He has blessed us all along the way."

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TRISTATE DIGEST
Woman reinvigorated after kidney transplant