Meredith McCall, 34, was diagnosed with insulin-dependent diabetes when she was only 16 months old. From age eight, she did her own insulin injections every day until this year, when kidney failure led to Meredith being listed for a kidney-pancreas transplant. No stranger to donation, her active 19-year-old brother Jim became an organ, cornea and tissue donor in the aftermath of a fatal motorcycle accident in 1998. On August 13, 2010, Meredith underwent a successful kidney-pancreas transplant. Her recovery proceeded, and she was back at work in the customer service department of the Pima Federal Credit Union in just three-and-a-half weeks.

Meredith's Story

Meredith McCall, 34, was diagnosed with insulin-dependent diabetes when she was only 16 months old. By age eight, she had learned how to do her own insulin injections, and gave herself the shots every day until this year when her life changed again.

In March 2010, Meredith was told that she was in end-stage kidney failure and needed a transplant. She went on the waiting list in May for both a kidney and pancreas.

This was not the first time Meredith or her family had been involved in donation and transplantation. In 1998, her active 19-year-old brother Jim became an organ donor as the result of a fatal motorcycle accident. Jim had talked with the family about donation years before, and with the donation of his liver, kidney, both corneas, two heart valves, and other tissue to restore and enhance lives, his wish was fulfilled. The family has met his liver recipient and stayed in touch.

Meredith and her family had worked actively as organ and tissue donation advocates for 12 years when she was placed on the waiting list. Members of Meredith’s family began stepping forward to see if they could qualify as living donors. First her sister Bridget was tested, but was not a match. Meredith was set to go on dialysis while she awaited a donor.

At this time, a cousin from North Carolina, came forward and began the paperwork to see if she would be a match. Instead, Meredith received the call everyone on the waiting list hopes to receive: the family of a young woman in Utah had said “yes” to donation.

On August 13, 2010, Meredith underwent a successful kidney-pancreas transplant. Her recovery proceeded, and she was back at work in the customer service department of the Pima Federal Credit Union in just three-and-a-half weeks.

Meredith and her family carry on the donation message through their educational foundation, Life Donor USA, and speak at churches and organizations all over southern Arizona to encourage families to discuss organ donation and sign up through the DonateLifeAZ Registry.