LOVE The Gift of Unconditional By T a y l o r Shea W e s t • Ph otos by L y dia Sc hnitz er “I’ve hugged my dad several times throughout my life, but I have to say there is this one hug I will never forget,” said Katie Browder, Kentucky native. Katie has many stories and memories with her dad that made such an impact on her growing up. Both of her parents have always supported her, no matter the circumstance. “Whether it was taking me to softball practice or games, supporting me throughout college while I took forever to decide on a major, or welcoming me back home with open arms when I got a divorce, my parents have always been there,” said Katie. It’s no secret to her family that Katie has always been a daddy’s girl, so any chance she had she spent time with him. However, when he needed someone the most, Katie was able to show her love in more ways than one. Katie’s dad, Tim Gordon, was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease, also known as PKD. PKD occurs when cysts form on one’s kidneys. Unfortunately, over time, this causes a person’s kidneys to lose function. “Six years ago, my dad told us all that his kidneys were now failing and that he was going to have to start dialysis. I was more than heartbroken,” said Katie. “That I remember all too well.” Katie’s dad was always so strong and never down, so to see him hurting and sick absolutely killed her. “It also scared me because of my grandfather,” said Katie. “Back in the early 2000s, when my kidney function started dropping, the initial testing showed that I had spots on my kidneys, said Tim. “This truly started an emotional roller coaster ride for my whole family because my own father died at just 46 years old of kidney cancer. Further tests showed that it was PKD, which was not fatal but would require dialysis and eventually a transplant.” Katie knew from early on that she wanted to be a living donor for her dad, though due to certain circumstances and not having the right support system outside of her family, it just wasn’t the right time. “But this past year, my circumstances changed and I ended up moving back to Kentucky from Tennessee. It just felt like God had lined everything up for it to happen,” said Katie. “I had a great support system within my family, my job, and my boyfriend and his family.” Katie’s family was all there, ready to support her and her decision to donate to her dad. INTHEVUE.COM | JUNE 2023 7
