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Linda Haskett needs a kidney donor. Husband David Haskett serves as her caretaker. Photo by Kathie Sciullo
Kathie Sciullo
NCR Reporter
Linda Haskett’s future Christ-mases depend on finding a kidney donor.
The Callahan resident is in the end stage of chronic kidney disease. She is on a wait list to receive a kidney.
The 68-year-old undergoes dialysis nightly to assist kidney function as both of her kidneys are at 10%, according to husband David Haskett.
“It could save my life,” Linda Haskett said. “It can make me have a more normal life instead of having to be hooked up to a machine every night, traveling to see my daughter and my granddaughter. We’re going to miss Christmas with them this year.”
Before dialysis, Linda traveled to Michigan to celebrate the holidays with daughter Courtney Kroening, granddaughter Paisley, 9, and son-in-law Kyle.
The young mom longs for a donor to come forward so she can spend additional time with her mother. Sibling Corey, 32, rounds out the family.
“It means the world to me,” Kroening said. “It means more than I can put into words. I want her around forever. She’s my best friend.”
Paisley also misses her grandmother. The two connect daily online through social media, but it isn’t the same as face-to-face interactions.
“My daughter thinks the world of her Nana,” Kroening said. “Those two are inseparable when they’re together.”
David Haskett is caregiver to his wife. An existing medical condition prevents him from donating a kidney. He described the differences between a kidney donation from a living person or a deceased one.
“Living donors are the easiest, quickest way to get a kidney,” he said. “The kidney from a living donor typically lasts longer than one from a deceased donor.”
Linda lives each day waiting for an organ that can extend her life. She is also in the process of joining donor wait lists in other parts of Florida. The Hasketts encourage people to register as donors.
“It doesn’t cost you anything, even if you don’t qualify,” David said. “Even if you don’t qualify medically, say they find something wrong. You’ve got free screening that you may not have known you were sick and going to come down with something in the future. And they’ve already looked at it.”
He continued, “There’s a lot of pluses to being a donor. And then on top of that, just saving somebody’s life, because her life right now is in jeopardy.”
About 20 years ago, Linda was diagnosed with eosinophilia fasciitis, which affected her immune system. The neurological disease also attacked her neurological system and her pancreas.
As a result, she developed neuropathy in her hands and feet and also became diabetic, which affects her kidneys. Although the neurological disease is in remission, the damage was done to her body.
To register for a donor screening, visit the National Kidney Foundation website at https://nkr.org/NCH533. Matching blood types are no longer necessary, but a person must be healthy.
“Some people take this the wrong way, but if you ask yourself, ‘If I was dying or somebody I know is dying of kidney disease, would you accept a kidney from a donor to save their life or save your life?’ And if your answer is yes, then why wouldn’t you give up your extra? … I know it’s a big ask, but if you think about it, if you would accept it, why wouldn’t you give it, because it’s that important,” David said.
Linda hasn’t lost hope that a donor will come forward.
“I’m just thankful I get up every morning,” she said. “I’m still breathing and I feel OK. Not like I was 20 years ago. Life could be better, but I’m just waiting on God’s time. If it happens, it happens. And I will be very thankful to whoever would be so kind to donate to me. … It would be life-changing.”