Living History Makers:

Kimberly Hill

Organ Recipient

"MY GREAT FRIEND AND KINDRED SISTER"

Kimberly was originally from Pennsylvania and resided in Metro Atlanta for the last 12 years. She was always very active as a swimmer, volleyball player and shot put champion. When she was in college, she was diagnosed with Nephritic Syndrome and was informed than an infection had attacked her kidneys.

After receiving the diagnosis, Kimberly received treatment and continued on with her life. Over the years she had many symptoms of ongoing kidney problems, but doctors always attributed these problems to something else. Within eight years, she was in complete kidney failure. Eventually, after extensive lab work, doctors determined she had End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), total Kidney Failure. At 27-years-old, she started Hemodialysis. Now, Kimberly was confined to a machine for a minimum of four hours a day three times per week.

She did this for more than two years. In 1993, she got the call… a kidney transplant was available for her. She finally received her long-awaited kidney transplant. The surgery was very successful, with no complications. She was out of the hospital five days later and it took approximately six weeks to recuperate.

Kimberly's quality of life improved greatly. She was able to go back to work within four months. She also became very active in organ donation and transplant awareness. She also got active again and participated in the U.S. and World Transplant Games. Kimberly participated in three sporting events at The Games: swimming, volleyball and women's shot put. She is a three-time Gold Medalist in Women’s Shot Put. She also participated in the 1997 World Transplant Games in Sydney, Australia.

In January of 1995, she secured employment and moved to Atlanta where she continued to live a very active and productive life since her transplant in 1993. In 2003, she started having symptoms of rejection.

Unfortunately, Kimberly's battle ended after a brain aneurysm in 2008—15 years of life after her transplant. Kimberly's story has touched so many, and those who she graciously shared her life with will have a part of her forever.

Submitted by: Cheryl Williams

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