The Brightside: Kidney recipient thriving

WMDT – A young woman’s story that began at nine years old, a terrifying medical diagnosis, and a question of whether or not she’d ever find a kidney to save her life. That woman, WMDT met her nine years ago and now she’s sharing all the waiting. Medical emergencies. Sharing her story with others gave her another chance at life – a healthy one.

Sometimes it takes a village to give someone a second chance at life and Rebecca Reinas has experienced this firsthand, “Pretty much everyone that was around me helped me figure it out.”

Reinas is no stranger to the curve balls life throws, and her medical journey is the epitome of that. “I used to horseback ride when I was nine and stopped at 14 because I was sick, I was really upset about that.” She explains to us that she started dialysis at 17 years old.”

Through countless emergencies and tests, she was eventually diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and cardiomyopathy; her kidneys and her heart were going to pose a major challenge throughout her life.

However, a new kidney, was going to be the ultimate game-changer, but like most of those in need of a kidney, it’s a waiting game. “I just kept myself busy because I didn’t want to just sit down and think that I don’t know what to do now,” says Reinas. “It was more of let’s see if we can get as many people as possible to hear about the story and see if I can get help.”

Reinas and her mother met WMDT back in 2015 and took to social media to find her a donor. With a special type of blood needed and her heart condition, finding the right donor was crucial. “Trying to find someone to give me a kidney, they had to go through everything, if there is even one little hair out of line, they wouldn’t be allowed to donate,” she explains.

She waited 10 years for a kidney and during that time, she did everything but give up. “I got more into my music so that helped me with everything.” She adds, so I just went to school, came home, played my music, and just kept myself busy throughout everything.”

Between her hobbies, interests, friends, family, and high school sweetheart now fiancé, Reinas tells us she was surrounded by people who stayed by her side every step of the way. Whether taking her to doctor appointments or helping her with at-home dialysis. “My fiancé actually did that for me and he is terrified of needles and blood so he did that for me at home but once it got towards that part, I just thought, I want this kidney.”

Finally in 2022, after 10 years of waiting, she got the call that doctors had found a match; Her fiancé being one of the first people to know. “He dropped everything, came over, and drove me four hours to the hospital. I was there all night getting tested, and the following morning I got the kidney.”

While her heart condition prolonged her recovery, she stands two years later on a healthier path and a brighter outlook. “It’s definitely something worth waiting for,” Reinas says. “I can play my music, I can do anything that I was really able to do before I got sick.”

We’re told while she may always have small medical battles, she doesn’t look at her experience as negative. Reinas says this showed how resilient she could be, especially with the right support system; and hopes anyone out there can look at her story as a story of hope. “Hang in there and try to keep your spirits up, do anything that might help,” she says.

An interesting fact, Reinas credits her mom being she has battled Lyme disease all of her life and continues to be her biggest supporter. She says seeing her mom never give up helped her fight to be here too.