2017 Sheila Whitney

ol_sheila-whitneySHEILA WHITNEY

Kidney Recipient

In 2001, Sheila Whitney was diagnosed with kidney failure. She received dialysis for 3 hours a day for 7 years and continued to “P.U.S.H” (PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS) while trying to live as normally as possible. She even came to a point to where she was not able to go on any longer. Sheila received a call in late 2007 from Susan McGuire who informed her about the UCLA Kidney Donor Exchange Program. She received her kidney from Harry Damon. Sheila Whitney is blessed with borrowed time from Harry’s kidney, allowing her to see the birth of her son’s daughter. Shelia continues to do her favorite thing in life, and that’s cooking large meals for her family and friends.

Sheila’s Story

In 2001, Sheila Whitney was diagnosed with kidney failure. She received dialysis for 7 trying years, 3 times a week, day in and day out, connected to a machine that was keeping her alive. She received dialysis for 3 hours a day while remembering to “P.U.S.H” (PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS) living her life on dialysis and trying to live as normal as possible. This was starting to get to her and Sheila had come to a point to where she was not able to go on any longer.

Sheila and her son Reggie received a call in late 2007, from Susan McGuire (UCLA). She was working for years to make this a reality and she informed us about the UCLA Kidney Donor Exchange Program that was taking place and that they qualify to be the first to go through this program. They let Susan know right away that we were interested in the program and wanted to be a part of history in the Kidney Exchange of 2008. Sheila received her kidney from an altruistic donor by the name of Harry Damon after the loss of his sons. Harry felt the need to do something to honor his son. He enlisted himself on an altruistic donor list and unknowingly in 2008 donated a kidney to an African-American woman from Compton, California.

Sheila Whitney is blessed with borrowed time from Harry’s kidney allowing her to see the birth of her son’s daughter Sydney Griffin who is now four years old. Shelia and Reginal celebrate life as much as possible with family and close friends. Shelia continues to do her favorite thing in life, and that’s cooking large meals for family and friends.