Ferris Backmeyer recovering in Toronto after kidney transplant surgery

It’s been a little more than two weeks since Ferris got her new kidney. So far, the results of that surgery are positive.

“She’s doing amazing,” Lindsey says. “Everyone’s very happy with how she’s doing. The kidney is very happy, making lots of pee, and her blood work is solid.”

After a previous transplant didn’t work and an abrupt cancellation of another surgery in April, the future was extremely uncertain. However, as the family travelled to Toronto for Ferris’ June transplant date, things started to turn around.

“Ferris was her best self,” Lindsey recalls. “We could all see her, just so strong. She was walking, doing stairs. Things that we hadn’t seen her do in months and months and months. It kind of just felt like okay, this is it. We’re teeing up for the big day.”

The transplant surgery took place overnight a couple of weeks ago at SickKids Hospital in Toronto. Lindsey, who is a Respiratory Therapist, was allowed into the operating room with Ferris while the anesthesia was administered.

“I was there while they put her to sleep. I could see the kidney was already there, but because I wasn’t supposed to be in the room, I just did my job, got my kid to sleep and then peaced out,” Lindsey says. “The surgeon came at around 5:00 a.m. to tell me that everything was good and that she did really well. Literally, there have not been hardly any dramatic moments. My husband and I were talking, that if she gets discharged on Monday (July 16), this will be the longest admission she’s had, and the most boring. Filled with the least amount of fear and anxiety. It’s just been very smooth, for the most part.”

Ferris’ story has been spread far and wide, thanks in part to the support of the community here in Kamloops, as well as through friendships built through Ronald McDonald House in Vancouver.

Lindsey says the support she’s seen for her daughter, in the form of the green transplant ribbon graphic that has been making its rounds, has been heartwarming.

“It was crazy,” Lindsey says. “I was showing all the nurses and the doctors saying ‘Look at this!’ She had thousands of people in BC rooting for her that day. Like, I know for sure it was thousands of people who were aware of her going for this big surgery.”

Two weeks post-op, Ferris’ new kidney is working as hoped. Her appetite is strong, she’s improving each day, and the hope is she’ll be discharged from the hospital as early as next week. That progress has Lindsey cautiously optimistic for her daughter’s future.

“Right now I’d just like to get a solid year — that would be amazing — of beautiful life and growing and not being attached to a machine,” Lindsey says. “Being able to live in Kamloops, because on hemodialysis, there was no chance of us moving home at all without a transplant. Home is in our future, where technically in April, I had no idea when we would be going home.”

The family was able to break Ferris out of the hospital for a little while on Wednesday for a quick walk outside. Once Ferris is discharged, the family will stay at Ronald McDonald House in Toronto until they can transfer to Vancouver later this summer. For now, she’s like any other kid who’s cooped up inside in July.

“She’s doing good. She’s actually really bored,” Lindsey says. “There’s going to be glitter in this room forever, actually. I’m finding glitter everywhere. The last couple of days I said no, we’re not playing with the slime. She’s like ‘Why?’ and I’m like ‘I need a break from the glitter, Ferris!’ I’m finding it everywhere. It’s too much for Mom. She’s doing really good. I think once she gets out of the hospital, she’ll be able to see it.”

by Adam Donnelly

Ferris Backmeyer recovering in Toronto after kidney transplant surgery

Our Community