Early kidney disease is a silent problem, and often times there are no symptoms so you're unaware that you're even sick.

Carol Contessa has a kidney disease; it's one that she was all too familiar with because her mother had the same condition. "Both of us had it at the same time, and it was difficult."

Nephrologist Joel Van Sickler says that "We call it hypertensive nephosclerosis. It's very important to control the blood pressure. The higher the blood pressure the more rapid one loses kidney function. If the kidney disease progresses then its options for renal replacement therapy."

Carol had to go on dialysis. "I was on dialysis for five years. And it wasn't working for me anymore and I was really on a down slide."

Dr. Van Sickler also says, "With transplantation there's greater improvement in quality of life. Part of it is one's not having to go to dialysis three times a week."

Carol is now off the dialysis and is doing much better that's thanks to a lifesaving kidney transplant. "When I finally got on the list for a transplant, it was only 90 days that I waited and I got my phone call. I went into surgery and it went smoothly."

A donated kidney may come from someone who has recently died or from a living person, usually a relative. Carol's kidney was a gift from a young man who lost his life.

The Kidney Transplant Center at Southwest Regional will consider referrals for kidney transplant patients who are currently on other waiting lists in the United States, Canada, and other foreign countries. For more information you can call 239-939-8442.