A Loving Grandfather's Life-Changing Kidney Transplant Journey
When Jessie Medlin, cattle farmer and devoted grandfather living in Mississippi, began having trouble with his kidneys, he never could have imagined where the journey would lead.
After dealing with high blood pressure and kidney disease, Jessie found out he would need dialysis. He decided on home dialysis for the flexibility it gave him. As a grandfather to five very active grandchildren, he liked the freedom of treating at home so he could continue to work on his farm and attend their sporting events.
“I always thought when they told you, you're on dialysis, that's the end of it,” says Jessie. “But it's really not the end of it, if you do what they tell you to do and take care of yourself.”
A holiday gift
Though Jessie was doing well with home dialysis, he was interested in the benefits of kidney transplant. Jessie knew that a transplant could mean having more energy for his family, feeling better, not having to be on a dialysis schedule, and getting back time in his schedule for his busy farm life.
At a holiday party, Jessie began talking with Amy Rovenstine-Miller, a close family friend. Without hesitation, Amy shared that she was willing to get tested and see if she would be a transplant match for Jessie.
“I’ve seen how dialysis can save lives — but I’ve also seen how a transplant can give someone their life back,” says Amy.
The transplant journey
After the party, Jessie and Amy began the process to see if Amy would be a match for living kidney donation. “Transplant is a journey that is emotional and physical,” says Jessie. “It affects you and your whole family. Just the part of getting on the list and the suspense of waiting for a donor to be a match.”
Jessie was put on the transplant list in July 2024 while Amy began testing. After months of waiting, they received exciting news in November 2024 — they were a match! He had his kidney transplant from Amy in November 2024. They both recovered well in the hospital and soon Jessie was home recovering.
Encouraging others to stay hopeful
With his wife by his side, Jessie was able to stick to his recovery routine and slowly return to everyday activities. Though he had to take it easy at first, he was back farming and spending time with family within a few months.
Through the journey of home dialysis to transplant, Jessie has been grateful for the support he received from his care team at Fresenius Kidney Care. He encourages others on dialysis to stay hopeful if they’re also waiting for a living kidney match.
“If you are put on dialysis, it’s not the end of the world,” says Jessie. “If you’re looking for a match or waiting on someone, just wait.”
Now living his life after transplant and feeling much healthier, Jessie continues to share his story to encourage others to consider living kidney donation both as an option and as potential donors. He knows firsthand how life-changing receiving a living kidney donation can be.
“If you are able to donate, step up to the plate,” says Jessie. “I call Amy an angel. You can change or save lives.”
To learn more about transplant and living donors, visit our kidney transplant page
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