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A donated kidney saved the life of the Fountain City woman’s child, who suffers from a rare disorder called hydronephrosis.
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Emily Wobig, 9, right, takes a water break Saturday at a check point run by her grandfather Tom Angst during the first annual Organ Transplant Awareness Walk around Lake Winona. The event was organized by Dora Pelley of Fountain City whose daughter recieved a kidney transplant six months ago and was aimed at raising public awareness. (photo by Katie Derus/Winona Daily News) |
Pelley organized an organ donation awareness walk around Lake Winona on Saturday morning to raise awareness about the need for organ donors who can help children. The event was sponsored in part by the Children’s Organ Transplant Association, three area schools and other groups.
Organ donation hits close to home for Pelley, who hosted the event to benefit Dominik Lawson, a 2-year-old from northern Minnesota who was born without kidneys, and Jackie Kooistra, a 13-year-old from Willmar, Minn., whose kidneys were damaged because of extra protein in her body.
Both have received their organs in the past few weeks.
Pelley met the families when she was living at the Ronald McDonald house in Minneapolis. The families walked to the hospital together when their children received dialysis.
Olivia received a kidney transplant Dec. 7, 2007, and has undergone 12 surgeries to correct her hydronephrosis.
Pelley said 18 children die each day waiting for organs that can be donated even while the donor is still alive.
“You can be a living donor and donate a kidney, part of your liver or your bone marrow,” Pelley said. “You don’t have wait until you die.”
While the turnout wasn’t all that she had hoped for — just 20 participated — she said she expected it to be low key.
But Pelley plans to continue a fundraiser by selling T-shirts and collecting donations for the Lawson and Kooistra families. In the future, other fundraisers could benefit COTA.
“It’s beautiful to give someone a second chance,” Pelley said. “It’s the gift of life to someone else.”
