It seemed to be a long and endless search for a kidney donor for Lisa Hoogeveen from Hoorn, but everything has accelerated this weekend. In the night from Friday to Saturday, Lisa is called that a perfect match has been found, after which she will be operated on Sunday. “It’s so unbelievable! Even the doctors were surprised by this“, she says WEEFF/NH News. “I’m glad I could be helped so quickly.”
The life of Lisa Hoogeveen from Hoorn and her family has been turned upside down since the summer of 2021. She appears to be affected by Goodpasture’s Syndrome, which causes her to lose both her kidney functions in a short time. She is on kidney dialysis and has to go to the hospital in Hoorn three times a week for treatment.
The syndrome and the antibodies that Lisa has produced in her body make it a difficult task to find a suitable kidney donor. She places a call, which is heard by countless people. More than twenty people, from family to strangers, investigate whether they can be a match. But unfortunately without result.
Last Friday, WEEFF/NH News called Lisa to ask her about the progress of the search. She says that there has been a lot of disappointment in recent weeks because no suitable donor has yet been found, but that she remains hopeful due to the large number of registrations.
How different the situation is a day later: in the night from Friday to Saturday, Lisa receives a call from the Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC). It turns out there is a perfect match for her. “Around 4.15 am the doctor called,” says Lisa. “I had to report to Amsterdam at 10 a.m. The kidney arrived at the hospital in the afternoon. That afternoon and evening the organ was further examined, including a cross-examination that took no less than six hours. After 10 p.m., this was all completed.”
The kidney also appears to be suitable after all the research results, so Lisa is operated on a day later. She is now in the nursing ward of the hospital, where she has to stay for the next ten days to monitor progress. Then she can go home.
Went incredibly fast
“It’s been a rollercoaster these past few weeks,” Lisa looks back. “There was a two percent chance that there would be a suitable match. Before the weekend it was just a question of whether there would be a match, and when they would find it. It happened so incredibly fast that even the doctors were amazed. They also think it’s fantastic.”
Lisa is happy with the relatively short time between the message from the hospital and the operation. “That’s why I couldn’t worry much. I was afraid to have surgery, afraid of the unknown. But I went into it relaxed this weekend.”
The new kidney has yet to get going, but is already getting good blood flow and is busy producing urine. Lisa has faith in a happy ending. “The first part went well. I feel good now too. It’s really a miracle!”
Importance of organ donation
The fact that a suitable donor could be found for Lisa so relatively quickly is reason for her to once again draw attention to the importance of organ donation. Donating the kidneys saved the lives of two people. “It shows that it is very important that people sign up for organ donation,” says Lisa.