Kidney donation helps more than one person

Jean Sticha of New Prague is an advocate that people help others, especially those who can donate a kidney. She is a recent donor herself and is hoping people can help others who need a kidney.

Sticha was inspired to donate when her husband Dave donated a kidney a few years ago. “I saw how quick and easy his donation was,” she said.

Sticha, who owns and operates Cedar Brook Garden Center with Mary Beth Gullickson, explained her journey began in June 2017. She found out that Mychal Hix, the son of Cathy Riihl, a former co-worker at Coborn’s Superstore, needed a kidney. The father of four children, he is currently on dialysis and is on the national registry for donations from cadavers. Sticha was hoping to donate to him as he could wait five to six years before receiving a kidney.

“I was willing to go through the tests,” said Sticha, although she stressed she needed to donate during the winter. It would give her time to heal before the garden center opened for the 2018 season. She did the tests and in November “I found we wouldn’t be a match,” she said. She was placed into a “paired” program where she could still be paired with someone needing a kidney. Sticha didn’t wait long as she was a match. She found out her recipient was Lisa Van Blaricome of Centerville, IA. She had polycystic kidney disease where cysts attach in and on the kidney until the kidney function is diminished severely. The two met at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester on January 9 when they had the surgical procedures done. As part of the paired program, Blaricome’s husband, Chris, who went through tests to see if he was match, has also donated his kidney to a person needing one.

Sticha was able to go home two days after the surgery. She said other than the fourinch incision hurts when she coughs she has been feeling fine. Currently her only restriction is....

To see more on this story pick up the February 15, 2018 print edition of The New Prague Times.