MANSFIELD — It’s that time of year when people make declarations of what they’re thankful for. Typically topping the list are family, friends and a place to call home.

For retired Sherman Elementary School teacher Kathlynn Cramer, she’s thankful for the gift of a kidney.

The 69-year-old Mansfield resident was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a disorder in which clusters of cysts develop primarily within the kidneys. She began to notice the adverse effects of the disease about 15 years ago.

“I have been praying for over 15 years that God would give me a kidney,” she said. “I didn’t want anyone to die for me to receive a cadaver kidney and the doctors kept telling me I needed a live kidney.”

During her first year of dialysis, she informed her family and church members of her need, hoping that maybe someone would know a person who would be willing to donate a kidney.  

“After the first year, I just prayed that someone would give me a kidney because asking for one is asking a lot for someone to do, so I just asked people for prayer,” she said.

Fast forward to 2016, her prayer was answered … by a stranger.

It all started when Kathlynn’s son, Jeff, was chatting with Jamie Moore of Mansfield as they were renovating Jeff’s historic home on Park Avenue West.

“While working on the house, we were just talking about family and I mentioned that my mom has been on dialysis for about three years and is on a number of transplant lists to get a new kidney,” Jeff said. “He replied by saying, ‘I’ve always been interested in donating an organ to someone that is in need. Let me know and I’ll get checked to see if I’m a match.'”

Speechless, Jeff wasn’t sure how to respond, nor how serious Jamie was about his comment.

“So I gave a short reply, not holding him to it and continued working,” Jeff said. “A few minutes later he spoke up again and said, ‘Seriously, if you get me the phone number I will call.’

“I knew Jamie had a big heart, but man that just blew me away.”

After Jeff tracked down the phone number, Jamie underwent all the necessary testing, eventually discovering that he was a match.

“With all of this said, you need to know that at this point Jamie still had not even met my mom, Jeff said.

“Crazy, right?”

Kathlynn was astounded when she heard the news.

“I was in awe that anybody would even do that,” she said.

The operation, which took place Oct. 14 at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, went off without a hitch.

“The match was so close and the donor was so healthy that the kidney is working just like a normal kidney,” Kathlynn said. “Most people have a creatinine level of 0.2-1.2 with two working kidneys. Doctors were not expecting anything lower than 1.4.  My level is 0.5 — this equals 94 percent usage, which they thought was amazing.”

Both are still recuperating post-op.

“He says he’s doing fine, except for the incision,” Kathlynn said. “I’m still recovering, too. I have 21 staples in my stomach right now that itch, but I feel so much better that it doesn’t even matter.”

After three years on dialysis for three-and-a-half hours per week, Kathlynn said she’s now “free to live life again.”

She can eat foods she hasn’t had for years and no longer feels sick every single day.

“This kidney is a gift and I am trying to do everything the OSU doctors have instructed me,” she said. “Most important is blood work and amount of anti-rejection levels are in the blood. I will live with this medication for the rest of my life.”

Her new kidney should last 15 or more years, depending on how healthy she stays, she said.

“How do you say, ‘thank you?’ Hugs and saying thank you seems so little,” she said. “I feel like he (Jamie) is part of my family since he is as old as my children. I want to help him in his recovery.”

Kathlynn’s insurance covered the cost of his care in the pre-transplant testing, as well as his surgery and care in the hospital afterwards. However, the father of three has been unable to work during the recovery period.

To help supplement lost income during this time, a GoFundMe page has been created in his name. Kathlynn and others encourage people to consider donating to help support Jamie and his family.   

“He has been such a blessing to our family this year,” Jeff said of Jamie. “Now, post surgery, I consider him more than a friend. More like a brother.

“We are having Thanksgiving at our new house on Park Avenue West where it all started and Jamie is on the list of family members invited to celebrate Thanksgiving together.”