“That next morning, I was airlifted to Vanderbilt, which I don’t ever want to experience again. The minute I got to Vanderbilt’s ER, there were about 10 people in the room with me, including the transplant surgeons,” said Katie. “Eventually, I was put back on the transplant floor and it was officially determined that I was severely dehydrated, had a UTI, and had a cyst on my right ovary.” Her team gave her plenty of fluids, monitored her heart rate overnight, and was released the next day. “My mom and I made the drive home from Nashville to Wickliffe, but once we got home we quickly realized that my dad was retaining a lot of fluid and was struggling to breathe,” said Katie. “The next morning, my mom woke up and made another trip with my dad to the ER in Paducah, which resulted in him being airlifted to Vanderbilt as well.” Once both of them accomplished getting over these We had asked Tim what some of his favorite parts were about being a dad. He said he had to think about it for a moment. “It’s not that I can’t come up with an answer - because there Our bond is just as strong as it was before surgery,” said Katie. “I am a daddy’s girl through and through. This just made it so much more special. tough hurdles, their recovery became a whole lot smoother. Katie was able to go back to work six weeks after surgery, and her dad started driving again around seven weeks after surgery. “Our bond is just as strong as it was before surgery,” said Katie. “I am a daddy’s girl through and through. This just made it so much more special.” Life has definitely been different these past eight weeks for Katie and her dad, Tim. But they’re figuring it out together, and with the support of their families. “We have both had to make some adjustments in our day-to- day lives, him more so than me. My dad jokes every time I go to see him about whether or not I am there to just see him or my kidney,” said Katie. are a multitude of different possibilities. If I had to name some, it would be from unconditional love the first time you see your child to all the many firsts you see in their lives - those are my favorites,” said Tim. “I don’t look at fatherhood any different now. But seeing your child give a part of them, selflessly, affirms that you did something right raising them.” When Tim found out Katie was going to be his donor, he had mixed emotions. “For one, I was happy to finally be able to end dialysis treatments. But at the same time, I was scared for Katie,” said Tim. “A father’s job is to raise and protect your own children from all harm and not put them through something like this. Just getting to hug her after surgery was a total relief. It was knowing that she was doing okay and that she was in my arms.” Tim doesn’t think he needs to even begin to tell the world about Katie. Not because he doesn’t want to, but because he feels Katie shows the world daily who she is. Tim also has another daughter, Jackie Bray, who was also tested to be a match. Although she wasn’t a match, she joined the National Donor list as a Love Match participant. Both Tim and Katie encourage everyone to sign the back of their own driver’s license to become a registered organ donor. “If you have the opportunity to be a living donor as well, do it,” said Katie. “Not only will you change someone else’s life, but your life will also be changed too.” To find more out about becoming an organ donor, how to support those in need and more, visit www.organdonor.gov. 10 JUNE 2023 | INTHEVUE.COM
