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North County parents Mike and Mary Clynes, in their desperate search for a kidney donor for their 18-year-old daughter, Melissa, are also trying to educate the public of the procedures that are needed for a successful live kidney transplant.

While organ transplants are becoming everyday procedures in hospitals, few people think about it until they become personally involved. For the Clynes and their daughter Melissa it’s been a life-long endeavor.

Two years ago, Melissa received a kidney transplant from her mother, Mary. While the transplant was successful, shortly after her second kidney transplant anniversary, Melissa experienced a rare virus that caused her body to attack the kidney. The virus has destroyed the kidney and Melissa is yet again seeking a chance at life through a kidney donor.

The Clynes want prospective donors to know that medical technology has had a rapid advancement and live kidney donation is done by laparoscopy surgery. A simple blood test is all that is needed to determine a match for Melissa.

Mike, Melissa’s father, and siblings along with other family members have all been tested. Unfortunately, none have been a match. Melissa has developed antibodies and finding a suitable donor needs to be outside of the immediate family.

Melissa’s life has been filled with tackling many obstacles. When she was just ten days old she received a heart transplant at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. The years of medications and procedures took a toll on her kidneys necessitating the kidney transplant two years ago.

“Melissa is a strong, young girl and never shows her pain or suffering,” said her parents. “She will never put herself first and does not want any individual attention drawn to her. She just wants to live a normal life. Melissa would never reach out and ask the community to think about her. However, we (Mike and Mary) her parents, cannot just sit back and wait years for a kidney to become available.”

Since Melissa is 18 years old, she is now an adult and has to compete on an infinite list with a vast number of other adults for a cadaver kidney.

More importantly, her doctors say that dialysis will put stress and strain on her transplanted heart. (Melissa has been on dialysis since about mid-July.)

“A live kidney donation is a cure for Melissa – a cure she has no control over,” said her parents. We continue to have hope not only for Melissa but others awaiting a transplant that friends and family will consider organ donation. We know firsthand how organ donation saves lives as we have been blessed to have Melissa with us for the past 18 years due to life saving transplants.”

“We are unable to personally thank each and every individual who may come forward to be tested due to confidentiality of medical information; therefore, we deeply appreciate your thoughtfulness and compassion.”

Anyone interested in learning more on kidney transplants or in giving Melissa the gift of life, call Penny Scholl, Kidney Transplant Coordinator at St. Louis Children’s Hospital at 314-454-6216.