UPDATED: Framingham Mom Needs a Kidney

Framingham resident Tiffanie Cameron Maskell is always helping others, but now she is in need of some help.

The wife, and mother of two sons, needs a kidney. 

For more than 20 years, Tiffanie has been living with diabetes. The disease has damaged her kidneys and now she suffers from kidney failure.

When you have kidney failure, you have two choices: start dialysis or get a new kidney via a transplant.

"Earlier this year she started the process of being listed on the kidney transplant list, in hopes of avoiding dialysis," said her husband Don.

This week, Tiffanie began her first round of dialysis.

"A kidney transplant is a better treatment for her because she will be able to live a more normal life for our children and continue her community involvement," said Don.

"Tiffanie is an amazing wife and mother. We have two beautiful children, Davin and Draydin, whom she adores. She spends much of her time supporting the needs of our family and those in our community," said Don in an letter to friends and family.

"She is busy everyday driving a school bus in the town of Hopkinton. She loves those children as much as our own," said Don.

Many in Framingham know Tiffanie from her volunteering.

She is a member of the MetroWest Medical Center's Patient & Family Advisory Council and a member of the Framingham Park & Recreation Swim Team Steering Committee.
 
"Tiffanie is active in our church as well. She has helped with the primary children, youth, and currently teaches a Sunday School class for adult visitors and new members," said Don.

She is the past president of Hemenway Elementary School's PTO and a previous co-President of the Framingham Celebration Committee.

Don's hope in writing a letter to friends and family (and making it public) is that someone would come forward and help.

"Tiffanie needs a new kidney. We hope you will consider being tested to be a donor," wrote Don.  "I know this is a big request. But I make it on behalf of someone who devotes every day of her life to making a difference to her family and friends."

Anyone with blood type A or O is a potential match. 

"If we can not find a living donor, it could take anywhere from 2-5 years to receive a transplant here in New England. She can't wait," said Don.

"There are so many benefits to receiving a kidney from a living donor: Survival rates are significantly better, living donor kidneys almost always start functioning immediately, whereas deceased donor kidneys can take from a few days to a few weeks to start functioning, and it doubles the life expectancy compared to staying on kidney dialysis treatment," said Don.

"Perhaps the most important aspect of living donation is the psychological benefit. The recipient can experience positive feelings knowing that the gift came from a loved one or a caring stranger. The donor experiences the satisfaction of knowing that he or she has contributed to the improved health of the recipient," wrote Don.

Don said being tested does not obligate anyone to donate a kidney. 

At any time, without explanation as to why, you can decide that donation is not for you, he added.

If you would like to be tested, he suggested individuals contact Tiffanie’s transplant coordinator Susan Godfrey at 617-636-8861.

UPDATED: Originally posted at 3 a.m. Thursday, July 11.