Milwaukee Radio Host And Mother-In-Law Find Kidney Matches

WAUKESHA COUNTY, WI—Elizabeth Kay, a radio host for 99.1 The Mix, is starting off her weekend with great news.

"UW Health called and they found our kidney matches! We are overjoyed," Kay told Patch via social media on Friday.

She also made the announcement on her radio show Friday.

Kay has been sharing her journey with her listeners about trying to be a kidney donor for her mother-in-law, Camille. (Patch is not using Camille's full name to protect her privacy.)

The Waukesha resident has been open about her experience in hopes of inspiring others to consider being a donor.

"Due to a shortage of operating room space, Camille gets her kidney (from a donor in California) on March 25 and I go in for my surgery on March 30 and my kidney is going to Kentucky! All things considered, this went relatively quickly which we are so thankful for," Kay told Patch.

Kay's family ran into a road bump after she was told she wasn't "medically fit" to be a match for Camille. She told Patch at first she felt crushed and cried.

Then hospital staff told Kay about the Paired Kidney Exchange program that will allow both Kay to donate her kidney to someone in need and for her mother-in-law to receive a kidney from a donor that is a match.

Kay thinks the technology and the reach the program has is amazing.

"I'm praying for that person and I hope they have a speedy recovery. My kidney has been good to me for 39 years and now it's time to go off do good for someone else. I've getting my workouts in, eating well and and not drinking any alcohol to give that person the best possible chance of getting a strong/healthy kidney," Kay said.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, the Paired Kidney Exchange program works if the recipient from one pair of a donor and recipient combo is compatible with a donor from another pair. The transplant center may arrange for a "swap," with two simultaneous transplants taking place.

This allows two transplant candidates to receive organs and two donors to give organs.

"Camille so overjoyed and relieved and extremely grateful! She joked that maybe she'll come out of surgery blonde and tan since the kidney is coming from California," Kay told Patch on Friday.

For more information on the program, visit the National Kidney Foundation of Wisconsin. To hear Kay talk about her story, visit her blog at 99.1 The Mix.