Features Reporter
Colorado Mesa University nursing major Laura Nisley and her family were devastated to find out out that her mother Theresa’s kidney failed due to a combination of medication prescribed by a doctor. This news was given to them in February 2010. The close knit family stuck together as tests were run, and awaited the final results. In October of the same year the Nisley family was informed that their mother would need a kidney transplant.
“We were all devastated,” Theresa said.
As of 2010, over 20 million Americans that are 20 years and older suffer from Chronic Kidney Disease. The number of people awaiting kidney transplants as of Feb. 11, 2011 were 87,820 patients. In hopes of finding a suitable donor, Porter Hospital in Denver ran more tests and had a final donor list of about 12 people willing to give up a kidney. As time passed, the group of donors began to shrink to only two or three. One of them was Laura Nisley. Among the four children in her family, Laura was the only suitable match.
“It is harder to watch her suffer than it will be to do the transplant,” Laura said.
Laura is confident and is more nervous for her mother than herself.
“I‘m very proud, but scared. It‘s hard to know your daughter is going to hurt for you,” Theresa said.
The surgery will take place on Oct. 10, which is 10 days after Laura turns 21 and nine days before her mother’s birthday.
“She doesn‘t have to buy me another present for my birthday. She‘s just a remarkable girl,” Theresa said.
Theresa has had previous surgeries, but this will be Laura’s first. Porter Hospital is very comforting and supportive of the two.
“They answer every question perfectly and it‘s all very reassuring,” Laura said.
The mother and daughter are the only women in the family of six, which makes Laura’s dad very nervous.
“He has a lot of faith. She‘s our little princess,” Theresa said.
Mr. Nisley will be present on the day of surgery along with Laura’s close friend, Dana Pierce.
Laura’s surgery will be two hours long and Theresa’s will last five to six hours. After the surgery, both Laura and Theresa will be able to live a normal, healthy life just as they did before. Laura will be taking a month off from her on-campus job and two weeks off from school to recover.
“She will be stronger than she was before, and she is definitely one of my heroes,” Laura said.
Giving this transplant will add at least 17 more years onto Theresa’s life and she said she is filled with nothing but gratitude toward her daughter.
“She‘s just my pride and joy, there are no words to thank her. She‘s given me another chance at life,” Theresa said.
The mother and daughter have not only inspired each other, but also students at CMU.
“I think that‘s very admirable and it takes an extremely kind person to do something so caring,” Student Zak Kojima said.
Twelve donors later, Laura said she has faith in knowing that this is what she’s supposed to do.
“It‘s not easy to be a donor, and if it wasn‘t meant to be, I wouldn‘t have passed all the tests. I‘m a perfect match,” Laura said.
rdew@mavs.coloradomesa.edu
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