From co-worker to lifesaver
UF Health Jacksonville employee, Kandis Scott, donates kidney to friend and coworker of 11 years, Siena Garcia.
The average American adult spends more than 1,800 hours at work every year. That’s a lot of time spent with co-workers, which is why becoming friends with colleagues is common nature. This is especially true of Kandis Scott, RT, and Siena Garcia, RT, radiologic technologists at UF Health Jacksonville.
But they never expected their 11-year friendship to turn into a lifesaving situation.
Siena Garcia and Kandis Scott have worked together for 11 years as radiologic technologists at UF Health Jacksonville.
In April 2000, while still in radiologic technology school, Garcia was diagnosed with a condition that would likely result in kidney failure. After being on a donor list for two years, her aunt volunteered to donate her kidney, which turned out to be a match. Garcia felt happy, healthy and supported by family. She got married in 2006 and had a son in 2011. Life was good.
Scott started at UF Health Jacksonville in 2008 in the same department as Garcia. After working side by side each day, the two became close friends. Scott found out about Garcia’s condition and always kept a close watch on her, even suggesting in a joking tone, “I hope you’re ready for my kidney because I don’t need two!”
Flash forward to December 2014, when Garcia’s bloodwork indicated she was going into kidney failure. She couldn’t believe she had to go back onto a donor list.
Four years went by and she was still waiting for a match. Scott grew more worried about her friend and became serious about donating her own kidney to Garcia. She stopped joking and began researching the kidney donation process.
Siena Garcia and Kandis Scott celebrate their friendship and newfound bond after the successful kidney transplant.
By July 2018, Scott was ready to discover if her kidney was a match for Garcia, which included four months of paperwork, tests and evaluations. Though it might seem nerve-wracking and stressful to the donor and recipient, this extensive process is meant to fully ensure a donor is physically and mentally prepared for surgery.
The moment of truth came in November 2018, when they found out Scott was a match. The day was filled with tears, smiles, hugs and a bit of anxiety. With the winter holidays approaching, the surgery could not be scheduled immediately, and Garcia’s creatinine levels were starting to rise, which was not a good sign.
Once the surgery date was confirmed for Jan. 8, Garcia’s levels suddenly dropped. It was almost as if her body announced that everything would be OK.
The day of the surgery could not arrive soon enough. Scott and Garcia underwent surgery at UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville and were extremely pleased with the support they received at the facility. All nurses, physicians and staff members were cheering them on throughout the entire journey. The quality of care from the team at UF Health led Garcia and Scott to a smooth recovery.
Kandis Scott and Siena Garcia underwent surgery in January 2019 at UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville, resulting in a smooth recovery.
After a few months of rest, Garcia and Scott were excited to return to work in early April. Garcia’s labs have remained stable since the surgery and Scott continues to feel great functioning with one kidney. On the outside, you would never realize the bond shared by the pair. They are both as healthy and happy as ever. They sometimes even joke with each other that they forget they had the surgery altogether.
Organ donation is crucial in saving so many lives. According to the United Network for Organ Sharing, more than 100,000 people are in need of organ transplants. Kidney transplants are the most commonly performed organ transplant, with more than 20,000 performed since 1988.
Scott admits that she was initially scared to become an organ donor, as she associated it with death. She did not realize that being a living organ donor could also save a life. Her decision allowed her to save her friend, which was one of the most rewarding choices she’s ever made. Most people say they would do anything for a friend in need. Scott gifted an actual part of herself to hers — something most people cannot claim.
This entire experience is exactly why Scott encourages others to research organ donation and register as a donor. According to Donate Life Florida, there are more than 10 million registered donors in the state. Being a donor can make the difference for thousands of patients awaiting a suitable transplant match.
For more information or to register as an organ donor, visit donatelifeflorida.org/register.
