Auburndale Mother Seeks Kidney

Central Wisconsin Gift of Life Helps Share Story

Auburndale (OnFocus) – On January 28th 2019 at 15 weeks pregnant, Alison Snortheim went to the ER with what was believed to be severe morning sickness. After several hours and a lot of blood work, she learned that her kidneys had completely shut down.

She underwent emergency dialysis and was in the ICU for 4 days. The next day, Alison had a biopsy done on one of her kidneys. She found out that day that she had a very rare condition called Anti-glomular Basement Membrane Antibody disease. Alison was sadly told that the chance of her baby surviving was slim. The 23 year-old mom of a 10 month-old overcame the odds and in April of 2019, Alison delivered her son at 28 weeks. He was very tiny, weighing just 2 lbs 7oz, but he survived.

In October of 2019, Alison began the process of finding a donor. She was referred to Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN. Two of her sisters went through the testing process but were told that Alison has antibodies that make finding a kidney difficult. Now her search continues for an O+ kidney. Alison will also be starting the process at UW Health in Madison as well. She has also reached out to local nonprofit, Central WI Gift of Life, to help raise awareness for her story and the importance of organ donations.

“Once we shared the story, it took off! Alison is a young, local mom and I think her story really hits home with many people,” said Jill Dillon, one of the founders of Central Wisconsin Gift of Life. “Our mission is to raise awareness of the importance of organ and tissue donation. The waiting list for organs in the US is huge and the need for tissue is tremendous. We want people to register to be donors after their death and also to consider if being a living donor could be right for them.”

If you feel inclined to help Alison, please visit mayoclinic.org/livingdonor and click the link to the Health History Questionnaire. Alternately you may call 866-227-1569. Once Alison is established at UW, Central Wisconsin Gift of Life will share the contact information there as well.

If you cannot help physically, but are willing to help out this young family with a financial contribution please visit the Go Fund Me page here.

“Every year we do a huge scavenger hunt in Wisconsin Rapids in April. This helps us raise money for our cause, in turn helping support two other causes that do amazing work: University of Wisconsin Organ and Tissue Donation and Restoring Hope Transplant House in Middleton, WI,” said Dillon. “This year the Hunt had to be canceled due to COVID. We will be doing alternate fundraisers, including a calendar raffle in October. We are also currently in the process of laying out a Legacy Garden in Wisconsin Rapids. People can purchase granite pavers in memory or honor of anyone whose life has been touched by transplant and donation. Please visit our Facebook page for information on all of the above.”

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