Julie Dodds (right) received a kidney transplant in November, five years after being diagnosed with a rare genetic kidney disease. The donor was her brother Jason Brauer (Image Credit: Contributed)

By Chad Klassen

KIDNEY TRANSPLANT

Kamloops woman receives best Christmas gift ever in new kidney from brother

Dec 17, 2020 | 3:44 PM

KAMLOOPS — This Christmas season is a little more special for Julie Dodds. A kidney transplant recipient last month, Dodds fees like she has a new lease on life.

“You still have some weird symptoms that are all from the [anti-rejection] medication, so there are still some stuff that feels a little bit. You just have to adjust to, but the energy level alone, the things that I’m able to do without regretting it later is crazy,” said Dodds, who had a rare genetic kidney disease that was diagnosed in 2015.

With a new kidney, and boundless energy, relatively, Dodds is able to bake and do many other things around the house she simply didn’t have the stamina for before.

“Just the regular household chores. You’re going to do the laundry and dishes and help your kids with whatever. All of that stuff. I would just be done mid-afternoon. ‘Ok, I’m tired and I’ll drag myself through dinner, then I really just got to go lay down.’ Now I don’t have that problem,” she said.

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She’s now able to be there for her husband Allan and three boys. It’s a huge weight off her shoulders. This is all thanks to her brother Jason, who stepped up immediately once they were determined to be a match.

“Honestly, it wasn’t much of a choice to make really,” he said. “We’ve known for a few years that this was going to come up, and as soon as I found out I had two good ones, it was a no-brainer.”

Dodds says after donating his kidney, Jason has given her a lifetime of gifts. “Best Christmas present ever,” she said. “You’re off the hook for birthdays and everything for life.” Jason joked, “I actually got the doctor to take a picture of it. I’m going to send it to her in cards for occassions now.”

For many, 2020 has been a difficult year. For Julie Dodds, 2020 will go down as a memorable one — but all for the right reasons.