Auburn wife donates kidney to husband of 39 years

For more than two decades, Auburn's Rick Herrera lived with kidney disease. Last summer, after his kidney function dropped to 12 percent, he qualified for the transplant list. But with deceased donor kidneys often taking years to become available, he and his wife, Stephanie, began exploring another option. After nearly 39 years of marriage, Stephanie Herrera put the phrase "in sickness and in health" into action by taking the first steps to see whether she could donate one of her kidneys to her husband. "I came home and I said, 'Well, I guess let me read into this,' " Stephanie said. "So I did some research, and then I said, 'Well, I'll see if I qualify.' So I just started the process." The Auburn couple's journey ultimately led to Sutter Health's Living Kidney Donor Program at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, where Stephanie underwent months of testing before learning she was a match. The transplant took place June 30. Rick managed kidney disease for more than 25 years, but by the time he was placed on the transplant list, the couple knew time was becoming a factor. "We were trying so hard to avoid dialysis for him," Stephanie said. "Once you get to 10 percent, that's when you get on dialysis." While she initially thought determining whether she could donate would involve little more than a blood test, Stephanie quickly learned the process was far more extensive. "The hardest part of all of this to me was the unknown," she said. "You're doing these tests and they're saying, 'We're going to have you do this next test,' and you're like, 'Well, does that mean I'm the donor?' 'Well, no, not yet.' " Despite months of testing, Stephanie said she always believed she would be the one to donate. "I never did end up putting it out there on social media because just something told me that I was going to be the one," she said. "I don't really know what it was." While spouses are less likely than biological relatives to be close tissue matches, many are still able to donate kidneys successfully. Compatibility depends on several factors, including blood type, tissue compatibility and crossmatch testing to ensure the recipient's immune system won't reject the donated kidney. Stephanie said she had already committed to participating in a paired kidney exchange if she wasn't a direct match, donating a kidney to another recipient so Rick could receive a compatible kidney from another living donor. When she finally received confirmation that she was a match, the months of uncertainty were over. Although she said she felt confident heading into surgery, the emotions caught up with her on transplant day. "The reason I broke down was because I was like, 'It's really happening,' " she said, noting Rick's biggest concern wasn't for himself. "He was worried for me. He was asking, 'I don't know. Is this a good idea? What if something happens to you?' " She reassured him throughout the process. "I said, 'Nothing's going to happen to me. They're either going to find out that I'm completely healthy, or they're going to find out that I'm not.' " Stephanie noted the couple's four children had mixed emotions as their parents prepared for surgery. "I think the kids realized that either way, Mom's going to do this," Stephanie said. Recovery has gone well, although Rick continues taking anti-rejection medications and undergoing regular blood tests. The couple plans to hold off celebrating until later this year, when doctors expect his medication regimen to decrease. For Stephanie, the transplant is about much more than a successful surgery. Because of his declining kidney function, Rick has been unable to undergo a needed knee replacement and has lived with bone-on-bone pain for the past three years. "The gift for me is getting my husband back," she said. "Being able to do things that we love to do." That includes returning to their annual camping trips, spending time on their pontoon boat and dancing together again. Throughout the process, Stephanie says one memory from the hospital stands above the rest. After surgery, while recovering in separate rooms, the couple FaceTimed each other. "He always calls me 'lover girl,' " Stephanie said. "He just said, 'Lover girl, I want to thank you. You gave me my life. You saved my life.' "To me, that was so fulfilling. That just said it all."