As a transplant outreach coordinator in the Kidney Transplant Program at UI Health, Olivia Fox knows how impactful a living donor transplant can be.
“I’ve met with countless patients, and I’ve seen firsthand how daunting the transplant waiting list can feel,” she said. “The idea of a living donor often provides hope. Not just for the life that’s being saved through donation, but also for the space it opens for someone behind them on the waiting list.”
— Olivia Fox
She also knows because more than a decade ago, she almost donated a kidney to her mother, Monica.
Monica Fox’s transplant journey started in 2013, when what she thought was a sinus infection turned into a sudden diagnosis of chronic kidney disease. Regular dialysis treatments started immediately.
“Dialysis, unfortunately, is a risky place to be,” said Dr. Enrico Benedetti, head of the Department of Surgery at UI Health, told Fox 32 Chicago. “In the U.S., to this day, only 40% of people will be alive five years while on dialysis. Worse than many cancers.”
Once it became clear that Monica would need a kidney transplant, Olivia, then in her early 20s, was ready to be a living kidney donor. She was evaluated, and the two were an instant match — but the plan didn’t work out.
“It was just before I graduated from college,” Olivia shared. “I hadn't started my own life and started a family yet, so though it would have been a good option, I don’t think my mom wanted to receive from me back then.”
Ultimately, Monica matched with another donor and received her kidney transplant at UI Health in 2016. For six years, her kidney functioned normally with no issues. But in 2022, Monica contracted COVID pneumonia, which caused her kidney function to quickly decline. Suddenly, she again needed a kidney transplant.
This time around, Olivia wasn’t only a match for her mom’s kidney — she also knew the kidney transplant process well. Since joining the UI Health Kidney Transplant Program in 2023, Olivia had helped dozens of patients and donors along their transplant journey. Now, it was her turn.
“This was my chance to really put my kidney where my mouth is and do exactly what I've been telling people is such a good thing,” Olivia said. “And now, I'm living proof this works!”
Kidney transplants can do more than “just work.” They can double life expectancy, increasing survival anywhere from 40% to more than 80%. If the new kidney comes from a living kidney donor, five-year life expectancy can increase to more than 90%, according to the Health Resources & Services Administration.
On Oct. 20, Monica received her second kidney transplant at UI Health. Dr. Ivo Tzvetanov, chief of the Division of Transplantation, performed the surgery, and this time, Olivia was confident that she made the right decision for her mom.
“I would do it again for my mother to give her this result,” Olivia said. “To make her feel the way that she is feeling now. I mean, I would go through anything to give her that, so I'm grateful for what I've been able to do.
“I’m honored to be a part of such an outstanding transplant program,” she added. “A program that I am not only proud to work for, but one that I trust with my own life.”
Read more and watch Olivia and Monica’s interview at fox32chicago.com .
