Cousin’s kidney saves a woman vying in the Transplant Games
Holly Miyagawa (right) will compete in the National Kidney Foundation’s biannual U.S. Transplant Games, with a kidney donated by her cousin Darlene. When Hermosan Holly Miyagawa strikes a volleyball, puts a shot and sprints in the National Kidney Foundation’s biannual U.S. Transplant Games beginning tomorrow, she’ll be competing as a tribute to her cousin Darlene, whose kidney is serving Miyagawa’s body. “Darlene gave me my life back,” Miyagawa said. The 39-year-old was born with kidneys that were too small, but they did their job while she was young. At age 16 she had her blood pressure tested and was placed on medication, and told she would eventually need a kidney transplant. Then at age 29 she felt her energy drop off sharply. It was hard to play volleyball on the beach, a favorite pastime. “It was November, and I thought I was tired because of the time change,” she said. “Then I thought I had a cold.” One day as she played, she became so drained of energy that she knew something more serious was wrong. “I looked down, and my thighs, calves and ankles were all the same size, they swelled up so much. My feet were so big I couldn’t put tennis shoes on,” she said. She realized…
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