Organ donor Jim Searson with his aunt Monica Goulet. (submitted photo/Jim Searson)

By Derek Cornet

Living donor transplant

‘A whole new world’: Organ recipient on the mend after kidney transplant

Apr 2, 2019 | 5:05 PM

Organ recipient Monica Goulet is looking forward to living a normal life after her nephew, Jim Searson, donated a kidney to her last week.

“I feel like I have so much energy,” she said. “I’m walking and I’m not taking any pain medication whatsoever. It’s like a whole new world. It’s like being reborn. It’s so hard to describe.”

Doctors at St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon performed the live-donor transplant March 26, which involved surgically removing a kidney from Searson and then transplanting it into Goulet. Searson’s surgery lasted six-and-a-half hours, while Goulet’s didn’t take quite as long. During the last week, Goulet noted her body has responded well to the new kidney and the organ has dramatically reduced waste in her body to near normal levels.

At the age of 26, Goulet was diagnosed with reflex action after she noticed irregular infections and was assessed by a specialist. It turned out, her kidney had already began failing during childhood as an X-ray she received when she was 13 showed scar tissue. She was able to manage the condition until her kidney function significantly declined in 2011 and the search for a donor began. Six individuals were tested to determine if they were compatible donors including her sister and son, and Goulet stated it wasn’t until February 2019 she found out Searson was a match.

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“I’ve been basically using external technology to keep me alive all of this time,” she said. “It means my life can return to as normal as possible because I had to go to hemodialysis three times a week attached to a machine.”

Monica Goulet is feeling much healthier after the transplant. (Tammy Cook-Searson/Facebook)

Searson’s kidney has already shown significant results in Goulet’s health. For instance, the waste protein called creatinine is reaching near-normal levels in her body. Between 80 and 90 is considered normal and Goulet said her reading this morning was at 95. While she was on hemodialysis, the level would be lowered to 600. Goulet was also told she could be leaving the hospital as soon as Thursday.

“Both Jimmy and I are feeling like new people and I’m so grateful for him,” she said. “I feel like a superhuman to be quite honest.”

Goulet is also very thankful for all the support the two received.

“We’re blessed with so many people from the North who love and care about us,” she said. “A lot of prayers were said for both Jimmy and I and they continue to do that, and we’re so grateful for all of the support we’re receiving.”

Jim Searson expects to be released from the hospital soon. (Tammy Cook-Searson/Facebook)

Meanwhile, Searson has been slow to recover from the surgery as doctors told him he’d be in the hospital for four days and it’s now been seven. He expects to be able to go home soon, adding the transplant team did good work. With his aunt now in a better state of health, Searson said he feels blessed to have the opportunity to help her out.

Searson is also hopeful their story will spread awareness about the need for organ donation. He stated people should not only educate themselves about live donor possibilities, but also consider registering to become a donor in case of unexpected death. As for his Goulet, he said he can’t wait to see was the future has in store her.

“I think life is short, life is about choices and life is really about helping other people,” Searson said. “I just thought this time there was no other choice; this is what I had to do.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno