Cluck Caldwell, left of Cumby, will be receiving a kidney, from her daughter, Kendra
Caldwell, right, on October 6th, at Methodist Hospital in Dallas.

 

Cumby Mother-Daughter Team
Shares "The Gift of Life"

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

Travel seventeen miles to downtown Cumby, Texas, and you'll experience just one of the many, many trips that Cumby resident Cluck Caldwell, makes each week to take kidney dialysis in Sulphur Springs.  That's when the true "fighting Trojan spirit" kicks-in!

Diagnosed with Acute Renal Failure, in October of 2008, Cumby native, Cluck Caldwell, makes the trip to Sulphur Springs every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, to receive the life sustaining treatments.

"I was diagnosed with the acute end stages of renal failure, in October of 2008, and began weekly dialysis in December of '08," expresses Cluck. "It was due to Type I Diabetes, that I've lived with since being diagnosed at age 13, and it had damaged my kidneys."

"No one can imagine the gruelling schedule of taking dialysis, until you've actually been through the treatments," continues Caldwell. "It's 3 1/2 to 4 hours of sitting absolutely still, while they remove your blood, clean it, and send it back into your body. Then, when you're complete, you are totally drained of all energy and must make the trip back to Cumby and rest for the remainder of the day!"

Cluck Caldwell is secretary at Cumby High School, where she continues to work on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays, "catching-up" on what all she missed on Tuesdays and Thursday's, while out receiving her treatments. "I needed to continue working and the staff and assistants at Cumby ISD have been wonderful," expresses Caldwell. "I couldn't have done it without their help and assistance!"

Caldwell, at 53 years of age, is a 1975 graduate of Cumby High School, and was only 13 years old, when she learned that she had Type I Diabetes, that is hereditary in her family. She began with taking insulin shots, once a day and making follow-up visits to the doctor every three months, while still a student at Cumby High School. "My 'sugar numbers' responded well to the regular insulin shots, that I could give to myself, and I coped with the disease, for 40 years," expresses Caldwell. "I even graduated to the new technology of an insulin pump, about three years ago, that monitors your blood sugar, and keeps it level throughout the day. But, it was in the autumn of 2008, that things began to change. Suddenly, I became sick and learned that my kidneys were failing and unable to filter the waste from by body!"

 

 

Once on dialysis, Caldwell's doctors advised that she was in the "end stage" of renal failure, and needed a kidney transplant. That's when she became associated with Dr. Dickerman, a renowned kidney transplant doctor in Dallas. He advised Caldwell to begin searching among her family and friends for a kidney donor.

"Initially, I didn't want either my son or my daughter to be considered for a donor," expressed Cluck. "The 'mother instinct' kicks-in and you don't want your child to risk their life giving something to you, so that you can live! You're obsessed with the possibility that something might go wrong, and here your children are with children of their own, and you worry about that risk!"

"That's when my Aunt Doris, sat me down and began a long, long counseling session," continued Caldwell. "She told me that I had to quit thinking about the 'what ifs'  of motherhood and put myself in the place of my two children. Both were wanting to give me a kidney and wanted to keep their mother around to enjoy and spoil my grandchildren!"

 

 

 

After much "soul searching," Caldwell finally agreed to let her children be tested as possible donors. What she didn't know was that her daughter, Kendra Caldwell, age 32, had already secretly submitted the application to become a donor, and solicited the help of Aunt Doris, to convince her mother to make the decision.

"I don't think anyone could stand by, knowing they could save their mother's life, and not do what they could," expressed Kendra. "When I saw what Mother was going through with dialysis, I began seeing what I could do to get tested to become a donor!"

Kendra Caldwell was warned by the doctors that it was "unlikely" that being the daughter, she would be a match. Siblings are the best matches and for some reason, sons usually are better matches than daughters. However, Kendra wouldn't be deterred.

"I went and was tested and found out that everything was a match!" an excited Kendra, came and reported back home. "I had gained some weight, following childbirth, and had even experienced a form of diabetes during my pregnancy, but when the tests were all completed, I was a perfect match, praise the Lord! That's when I went on a diet and lost 70 pounds, and made certain that my health was the best it could be!"

With the match for a kidney, things began to "shift into high gear" for the Caldwell family, of Cumby. Other tests were conducted and surgery schedules were made with surgeon teams at Methodist Hospital in Dallas. Everything is "on go" for October 6, 2009! Cluck and Kendra will enter the hospital simultaneously and go into two operating rooms, where they will remove Kendra's kidney and surgically implant it into Cluck's body. "They tell me that my kidney will be operating in Mom's body, before I even leave the operating room!" exclaims Kendra.

Meanwhile, during the testing process, they have found that Kendra has an aneurism in her spleen and they will remove her spleen during the surgery. "It was something that I had no idea that I had, and by having the tests, we found it before it caused problems," states Kendra. "If I hadn't been tested for donating my kidney, it might have never been found and I could have died, so I think this is definitely a sign that everything is working for us!"

Kendra is expected to be in the hospital for two to four days, and Cluck will spend a week in the hospital, and another week in the recovery suites, at Methodist hospital, recuperating.

"Certainly, it's been a long, long process and something that I wouldn't wish on anyone else," expresses Cluck Caldwell, of Cumby, amidst tears. "But, the process has opened a number of doors in my life and given me another chance at life, that was quickly slipping away, until we decided to make this journey! I'm truly blessed to have family and children who are willing to give me life, as I gave to them years ago!"

"I count it an honor to be able to save my Mom's life!" expressed a tearful, Kendra Caldwell. "I can't think of any greater purpose in life, than for me to be able to share this experience with Mom!"

So, what began over 32 years ago, when Kendra began making insulin for her mom, in the womb, and sparing her some of the daily intake of the synthetic drug, has evolved to her donating one of her kidneys, this October. And, Cluck, who first gave life to Kendra, will be receiving a new lease on life, from the very source she, with the help of God, created!

Additionally, with the hereditary nature of the disease in Caldwell's family, Cluck's son, Ricky Vaughn, has a son, 14 year old, Chase, who has the disease also. By Kendra, donating her kidney to Cluck, that saves Ricky's for Chase, should it be needed in the future!

The hearts and prayers of the Cumby community are with Cluck and Kendra, and the entire Caldwell family, as they undergo this process on October 6th! A community that they have supported, are now offering their support during this time of need!

This is asking God's blessing on the Caldwells, as they undergo the surgeries and the recovery period!

Cluck Caldwell will maintain her own two kidneys, and function with them and the transplanted kidney, and will still be required to take her daily doses of insulin, as well as anti-rejection drugs for the remainder of her life!

 

Our Hearts and Thoughts Are
With Cluck and Kendra!!!

______