‘I’m hopeful’: Teen is second person in family to need new kidney after older brother receives transplant
BATTLE GROUND, Wash. (KPTV/Gray News) – A teenager in Washington state is spending his senior year of high school searching for a kidney donor.
Jackota Salmi is the second child in his family to need a kidney transplant.
His older brother had also needed a new kidney after he was nearly killed in a hit-and-run more than 10 years ago.
Despite his illness, Salmi remains in high spirits as he attends Battle Ground High School.
“I’m hopeful,” he said.
Alongside school, Salmi helps at his family’s shaved ice company and said he plans to study business after graduating.
However, his focus right now is on finding someone who can donate a kidney to him.
Janette Chumley, Salmi’s mother, said he was 10 years old when he was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease.
“That was kind of shocking, we didn’t have that in our family, we didn’t know where that came from,” she said.
The diagnosis would just be the first challenge for his family.
In 2013, Salmi’s older brother, Justin Carey, was waiting for the school bus when he was hit by a driver who was allegedly on meth and THC. The driver sped away, leaving Carey in a ditch.
The family said it took an hour and a half for someone to see him.
The good Samaritan saved Carey’s life. However, his leg had to be amputated during his recovery. He was just 16 years old at the time.
After this trauma event, FSGS, or sclerosis of the kidney, was discovered in Carey as well, and doctors found a genetic link to kidney disease in the two brothers.
“Up until a little bit before Justin had his, I didn’t quite grasp the gravity because I was still pretty young at the time. It was after that I got a glimpse into what my future would look like. Granted, the process isn’t always the same, but I still got to look ahead and I started to take things more seriously,” Salmi said.
Five years ago, Salmi watched his older brother receive a kidney transplant after a year on the waitlist. Salmi’s journey, however, is different.
“The important part of getting a living donor is longevity,” Salmi said.
Because of his age, Salmi said he needs a living donation. A kidney from a deceased organ donor would require him to have several more transplants in his life rather than just two.
“Eventually, if I live up to 50 - since I’m 19 right now - I’d need to get another transplant around 50. That would last me probably the rest of my life,” Salmi said.
Salmi’s family said he is a healthy kid besides his scarred kidney. But if he does not get this transplant, they said he will have to begin dialysis treatment.
“Dialysis is like, really, really sick,” Chumley said. “The doctors, the team are hoping he can find a kidney first before we have to go that route.”
Salmi is hoping that someone can donate in time for him to skip that process.
“That’s another reason why getting a living donor would be very important, as it would essentially allow me to skip the process of dialysis,” Salmi said.
Carey recovered from his transplant and remains healthy now. The family is now hoping Salmi will have the same future.
“When Justin was on the list, we just prayed he would give us a donor in time and it was literally the week before Justin had to go on dialysis, we got the call,” Chumley said. ”So we believe in God’s faithfulness and I know that he’ll send us the perfect person for Jackota as well.”
To be a kidney donor for Salmi, the person needs to be in good health, at least 21 years old and have an O blood type.
More information about the kidney donation process can be learned here. Information regarding financial assistance available for donors can be found here.
If you think you may be a match for Salmi, you can contact Janette Chumley at timetothrive@icloud.com.
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