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Employee Receives Kidney from Coworker
Health Education Firm Brings "Health" to Employee
in Unexpected Way
Local Employee Receives Kidney from Coworker
For Immediate Release: April 23, 2007
Contact: Shelley Caplan, 240-221-4261, scaplan@iqsolutions.com
Note to editors: April is National Donate Life
Month, a time to honor those who have saved and
enhanced lives through organ donation, and a time
to call attention to those awaiting organ donation
and a second chance at life.
| Rockville, MD—Kim Plummer,
37, a conference logistics coordinator,
and her co-worker Lisa Jordre, 44, a conference
planner, focus much of their professional
efforts at IQ Solutions (a health education,
information and communications firm) on
helping public-sector clients effect change
and improve public health. The two women
recently experienced the results of that
mission in their own lives when Lisa donated
one of her kidneys to Plummer, who had
been suffering end-stage renal failure
and waiting on the transplant list for
six years. |
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Plummer just recently returned to work after three
months of recovery from her Dec. 4 surgery.
"We are thrilled with Kim's new lease on life and
extraordinarily proud of both women," said Ileana
Quintas, founder and CEO of IQ Solutions. "Kim and
Lisa embody the ultimate goals of IQ Solutions work—improving
health and quality-of-life. Our employees pulled
together as well to donate paid leave time for Plummer
and Jordre's recovery. IQ Solutions is filled with
people who are passionate about making a difference."
"Life before the transplant consisted of multiple
surgeries, catheters and lots and lots of complications," said
Plummer. "I used to have four-hour dialysis sessions
every other day that left me so tired I could not
walk the steps. Despite it all, I was trying to spend
quality time with my two kids, maintain a full-time
job and run a household."
Jordre, a mother of two who was already listed as
an organ donor but had never considered being a living
donor, said her decision to donate a kidney to Plummer—whom
she had known for only one year—was easy.
"I noticed one day how wiped out Kim was when she
got back from dialysis, and it got me thinking, ‘Maybe
I can help. I won't be hurt by this. Why not do it?' " Jordre
said. "Test after test came back with the green light
to move forward, so I felt this was what I was meant
to do."
Despite some minor post-operative complications,
Plummer's recovery was easier than expected. Her
initial hospital stay at Georgetown University Hospital
was only four days out of the 10 for which she planned.
Jordre's hospital stay for her laparoscopic donor
surgery was two days, and she was able to return
to "normal life" one month later.
Plummer revels in her newfound free time after the
transplant. "Now that I don't have to go to half-day
dialysis sessions, I have lots of extra time to do
whatever I want, like take my 7-year-old to the park
and see my 15-year old participate in school activities," she
said. "I can be an involved parent again, and I feel
free for the first time in ages!"
Plummer checks her blood pressure and takes 18 medications
daily, mostly to prevent organ rejection. Her weekly
doctor visits are now monthly. And she hugs Jordre
every time she sees her in the halls at IQ Solutions. "I
came to IQ Solutions five years ago because I loved
the focus on health. Never in my wildest dreams did
I imagine that someone here would be so dedicated
as to give up one of her kidneys and give me a chance
at a healthy life," Plummer said.
"When I came to IQ Solutions, I felt passionate
about the mission of improving quality of life and
now I've had the opportunity to make a real difference
in one person's life," Jordre said. "Being a living
donor has had a huge, positive impact on me, and
seeing my colleague so renewed and happy is the cherry
on top!"
Please note: April is National Donate Life Month.
To arrange an interview with Kim Plummer and Lisa
Jordre or CEO Ileana Quintas, please contact Shelley
Caplan at 240-221-4261 or scaplan@iqsolutions.com.
IQ Solutions is an information, education, and
communications company dedicated to improving people's
quality of life by providing them with the knowledge
to make informed decisions about their well-being.
IQ Solutions works toward this vision by creating,
applying, managing, and transferring knowledge and
by combining expertise in health communications and
education with cultural competency, technological
mastery, and dedication to connecting with specific
populations. For more information, visit www.iqsolutions.com.
