Jennifer Maxwell Schmidt

Transplant Type - Small Bowel and Kidney

Update: Jennifer received a transplant on October 14, 2018!

It is amazing what my life has been like these last 5 years. I am so grateful that my dad’s living kidney donation kept me healthy until I could find the right surgeon, the right team and the right match. On the afternoon of October 13th, I underwent a 10 hour surgery for a small bowel and (second) kidney transplant at Medstar Georgetown University. I had waited 7 months on the UNOS waitlist. It was some of the hardest wait time especially with the medical complications I experienced but I truly believe this donor was meant to be my donor. It's unbelievable that the cost for a small bowel transplant is around 1 Million dollars. (And that is just for the small bowel). This does not include the kidney transplant, airfare, rent and secondary living costs as I will need to stay in Washington DC for 3-6 months post discharge from the hospital.

So far I have been blessed with my recovery. I did spend nearly 40 days in the hospital post surgery.  Now I am working to live each day to the fullest and do my absolute best at taking care of these organs. I am watched closely with labs twice a week and a scope to check the small bowel for rejection each week. Part of my medical travels are out of necessity because local transplant centers found my situation "too complicated." I am so thrilled that Georgetown accepted me as a transplant candidate.

With that I offer my sincerest thanks!

You can help by making a tax-deductible donation to NFT through my NFT page. If you'd prefer to send your gift by mail, please send it to the NFT Florida Transplant Fund, 5350 Poplar Avenue, Suite 850, Memphis, TN 38119. Please be sure to write "in honor of Jennifer Maxwell Schmidt" on the memo line.

Thank you for being a part of my story and for your generosity!

Patient Health Institute: Florida Hospital. Now Medstar Georgetown University!