Harrison celebrates 7 years with donated kidney from sister

Stacie Harrison, left, and Cheri Stevens, right, prepare to run the 5K Grape Stomp in Nauvoo Saturday, seven years after Stacie’s kidney transplant surgery donated by her sister, Cheri.

Seven years ago on Aug. 30, Cheri Stevens and her sister, Stacie Harrison, were recuperating in a Florida hospital. Cheri had just donated one of her kidneys to Stacie, who was suffering with chronic kidney disease.

Last Saturday, Aug. 30, Cheri and Stacie started the day running together in the 5K Grape Stomp, part of the Nauvoo Grape Festival.

Stacie has done many 5K runs in her “new life,” since the transplant. For Cheri it was a first.

“I called Cheri when I realized this race would be on the 7th anniversary of the surgery. I said ‘We have to do it',” Stacie said. Cheri, who was a little nervous as they headed to the starting line, had Stacie cheering her on.

“I couldn't have done all the things I have in the past seven years without Cheri,” Stacie said. “I was going for dialysis three times a week. It wasn't much of a life.”

Before the surgery, Stacie was near death, her kidneys had reduced to about half the normal size, and her spleen was removed.

Her improvement was almost immediate.

“They told us that it could be 24 to 48 hours after surgery before the transplanted kidney begins to function. Hers kicked in right away,” Cheri said.

“Compared to how I had been feeling before the surgery, I felt more energy right away with a kidney that was working,” Stacie said. Both women remained in the hospital for a week in post-surgery recovery. In three to four weeks they were mainly “back to normal.”

Since that time, Stacie has continued with her job as a graphic artist and started her own business, Harrison Graphics, as a free lance artist creating brochures, logo designs and such.

Stacie runs because she loves to, and because she can in her new life with a good kidney. She also runs to call attention to organ transplantation. She is a member of a transplant recipients group. She runs wearing a shirt that states: “An organ donor saved my life.”

“The group is designed to give support to people who have or are getting ready to have a transplant,” Stacie said. “I let them know that they can have a normal life after dialysis with a transplant.”

The group was started three years before Stacie's transplant but the family did not know about it at that time. They participate in golf and running events to promote transplanting, and to raise money which helps transplant recipients.

“The important thing we promote is for people to talk to their own families about their desire to be an organ donor,” Stacie said. “You may indicate your preference on your license, but the family can overrule. I am here to show that organ donation works.”