Indianapolis, Indiana – A significant event for the community hospital system is overshadowed by the touching narrative that led to it.
This spring, Ascension St. Vincent performed its 800th kidney transplant after a local woman gave her kidney to a former friend from high school.
As she enters the Kidney Center at Ascension St. Vincent, Tiffanie Stall finds solace in a feeling of community. She receives a warm welcome both in person and from images of other living donors on the walls.
“These are glass knobs that the living donors get to make and I was the 156th living donor,” Stall said. “It is kind of a relief to know that these many people have been through the same thing I have.”
Soon, a picture of her artwork with the Donate Life logo will be included. She claims that this method of lifesaving is something she never anticipated doing.
“Was it easy? No. Was it worth it? 100%,” Stall said.
Adrian Butler was the catalyst for everything. He is a father and a private individual who had kidney failure after having polycystic kidney disease in his 20s. In October 2022, his wife made a desperate Facebook post.
“She had just posted that Adrian was in need of a kidney. And I hadn’t seen or talked to Adrian in a couple of years — at least,” Stall said.
They attended Indianapolis’ Warren Central High School together. Butler and Stall’s brother were pals back then. Even though they weren’t strangers, it had been a while since they had last spoken. Stall nevertheless made the decision to check if they were a match.
“I just prayed, ‘If this isn’t in God’s will, there will be a sign.’ Then, every step of the way, it kind of just answered a prayer, that this was supposed to happen,” Stall said.
Stall had to meet with staff, go through some quick blood and urine tests, as well as several scans, in order to donate. Additionally, she needed to match several minor antigens and have type O blood or a blood type that matches.
“She called me and she said, ‘You are a match,’ which is crazy,” Stall said. “I cried.”
Butler was greatly surprised and relieved by it. He was adamant that his experience be aired in order to encourage living donations even if he did not want to speak on camera.
The procedure took place in March.
“We named the kidney Lefty, so they took my left kidney,” Stall said.
“Lefty” saved Butler’s life, and after one night in the hospital, Stall was ready to go home.
“They take an entire organ you don’t even realize you lose. It is kind of crazy — you go through that whole process and feel completely fine,” Stall said.
Her current goal is to raise the word about live donations.
“My road takes me more as an advocate of living donation. ‘Hey it’s possible,’ and it’s definitely doable,” Stall said.
Ascension St. Vincent’s Kidney Transplant Program’s medical director, Dr. Abdul Moiz, claims that living donors are the program’s first priority at all times.
“We need to spread the word about living donation. In America, there are about 120,000 patients waiting for a kidney transplant, and unfortunately, we only do about 15,000 transplants a year. So there is a shortage of kidneys. Living donations are something that can bridge this gap,” Dr. Moiz said.
The best chance for the kidney and the patient to survive is with living donations, continued Moiz. If a person is not a match for the patient they are familiar with, they can still help someone else by swapping with another donor to assist their preferred patient.
Regarding donors?
“You can expect a normal lifestyle and lifespan,” Moiz said. “Basically, once your incision heals, you can go back to your normal lifestyle. You’re not expected to change anything, you can lead the same life you were living before the transplant. You can travel and live your life as you were. There is no change in your life after the transplant.”
Stall is evidence. She now carries a keychain with the slogan, “Share your Spare,” and intends to do so for the rest of her life.
Call 1-866-810-2449 to speak with a kidney transplant coordinator at Ascension St. Vincent.
