By Rhonda Westfall

It will take a minor miracle for Brenda Higgins to have her Christmas wish granted - receiving a donated kidney is not a small request.

Still, the Clinton County native has had lots of practice facing nearly hopeless situations in a virtual life-long battle with kidney renal failure - she's not about to give up now.

"A new kidney is a chance for a new life for our whole family - you just have to have faith and a positive attitude," the soft-spoken St. Johns resident said of the nearly five years she's been on a transplant list for the donated organ.

Brenda knew from an early age that the day could come when she would need a kidney transplant. Her mother, Patricia (Babbitt) Thelen died as a result of kidney disease just three weeks after Brenda was born in 1962.

"My mother was diagnosed with glomereonephritis when she was five years old," Brenda said, noting that because of that family history she had routine checks for signs of the disease. "The urologist monitored urinary output and my kidney function on a regular basis throughout my early childhood - I was diagnosed when I was only four."

Her condition remained stable in the following years that included graduation from Pewamo-Westphalia High School in 1981, marriage to David Higgins and the birth of their daughter, Megan. A decline in kidney function about 10 years ago resulted in what became the first of many visits to a nephrologist who initially put Brenda on a renal diet to control the disease.

"That kept me out of dialysis for the next six years," Brenda said, adding that her kidney function continued to decline. "I knew at some point I'd have to go on dialysis."

That time came in May 1999. From then until a month ago, Brenda made three trips each week to the Mid Michigan Regional Dialysis Center in East Lansing for the treatment that filters the waste which her kidneys cannot perform. A variety of procedures have been part of that process - including 14 surgeries to either insert or remove 'ports' and deal with the multiple infections that have resulted from complications of dialysis.

This past summer was especially traumatic. A puncture near her lung put an end to the dialysis method Brenda had been using, resulting in a change to a peritoneal procedure that involves a direct exchange of fluid four times each day.

True to her nature, Brenda has found something positive in the new routine which she performs herself at home.

"At least I can stay here and not have to travel and be hooked up to a machine three times a week," she said with a smile.

In spite of her upbeat manner, Brenda knows that a kidney transplant is the only real option for long-term relief from the disease. She's been on the list at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor for the past 4-1/2 years - waiting and praying for the telephone to ring.

"My blood type complicates the problem - it's O negative, and typically the wait for a good match is three to five years," she said, adding that her entire family has been tested as possible donors.

"My biological brother was a perfect match, but when they got to the point of checking blood pressure, his was way too high. Donating a kidney would have increased that a lot more - it was too risky."

An aunt of David's was also a willing donor, but her kidney function wasn't at an acceptable level - so that wait continues.

"Every year it gets harder and harder staying on the list until a kidney becomes available," Brenda said. "It's taken a toll on the whole family, but they've all been supportive and haven't given up hope."

The transplant procedure itself has become nearly routine. New laser surgical techniques make the operation and recovery period shorter for both the donor and recipient.

"They can do the testing in just one day to see if the donor is a good match, and with the laser surgery for the donor the recovery period is much less," Brenda said.

Specific information on the transplant procedure and donor requirements is available from U-M transplant coordinator Maureen Fox, 1-800-333-9013, or (734) 936-7491.

Her years of dealing with the disease and dialysis has also made Brenda an 'expert' of sorts. She would be happy to talk with potential donors; (989) 224-7348.