Laura Bachmeier, a 34-year-old agriculture supply chain worker from Apple Valley, Minnesota, is undergoing dialysis seven nights a week while searching for a compatible kidney and pancreas donor to treat end-stage renal disease and long-standing type 1 diabetes, according to reports by CBS News Minnesota.
The Diagnosis and Daily Impact
Last winter, doctors informed Bachmeier that her kidneys were operating at less than 10% capacity, leading to a diagnosis of end-stage renal disease, as reported by CBS News Minnesota. The condition compounded decades of health challenges. “I’ve had diabetes for over 30 years, but this adds a whole other layer to it,” Bachmeier told CBS News Minnesota, describing the severe fatigue she experienced before starting treatment. She currently undergoes dialysis every single night.
Transplant Requirements and Logistics
According to CBS News Minnesota, Bachmeier requires a donor with Type O blood and a matching tissue type. In addition to a kidney, she is seeking a pancreas transplant that would cure her diabetes. Managing both conditions simultaneously creates daily complications. “Sometimes if my blood sugar is low, is it because of my diabetes or is it [because] I’m not feeling good because of my dialysis?” Bachmeier said in the interview.
When a match is found, Bachmeier will need to travel rapidly from her current residence in Alexandria, Minnesota, to her medical team in the Twin Cities within hours. Nationally, organizations like Donate Life report that 13 people die daily while waiting for an organ transplant, according to CBS News Minnesota.
How to Become a Donor
Individuals interested in being evaluated as a living donor can register through the M Health Fairview website, which features a program allowing prospective donors to specify Bachmeier’s name, as noted by CBS News Minnesota.