Meet Lyda Kroening

Age: 54 Transplanted Organ: Liver

A surprising diagnosis

After years of good health, Lyda started to feel sick. Yet her symptoms were inexplicable and her doctors could not figure out what was causing them.

But the diagnosis was clearly identifiable: Lyda had end-stage liver disease. Because her condition was progressing quickly, a liver transplant was her only option. It was thought that the transplant should take place as soon as possible to ensure that she would be physically strong enough to withstand the stresses of such a procedure.

She was scared, sad, angry, and had a million questions racing through her mind: how would her family cope with this situation? What about her dreams of raising her children, growing old with her husband, and one day becoming a grandmother?

What if a donor could not be found in time?

A Surprising Second Chance

Fortunately, a young woman had made the decision to become a registered organ donor. While this anonymous woman died tragically, her selfless and generous gift saved Lyda’s life.

“The 18 months since my transplant represents less than 3% of my life span and it has provided me with some of the most profoundly meaningful moments of my life. The most important lesson is to appreciate time. Things that I previously rushed through or put off now receive my full and immediate attention. Each day is a new blessing.”

Now fully recovered, Lyda does volunteer work helping to raise the public’s awareness of the need for organ donation. She says that it’s the right thing to do to honor her donor.