GoFundMe Set Up For Milwaukee Radio Host's Mother-In-Law

WAUKESHA COUNTY, WI—A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with bills and travel expenses for a woman's kidney transplant surgery. As of Tuesday the page has raised $4,440.

Elizabeth Kay, radio host for 99.1 The Mix, has been telling listeners about trying to be a kidney donor for her mother-in-law, Camille Hamme.

"Due to a shortage of operating room space, Camille gets her kidney (from a donor in California) on March 25 and I go in for my surgery on March 30 and my kidney is going to Kentucky! All things considered, this went relatively quickly which we are so thankful for," Kay told Patch.

Marian Stenz, organizer of the fundraising page, wrote about finding out her mother (Hamme) was in stage 4 kidney failure.

"So, so many of her family and friends signed up to see if they would be a match for my mom. One of the transplant coordinators actually said he doesn’t think he had ever seen so many people sign up for one person. But if you know my mom, that is not a surprise to anybody," the post said.

The family ran into a road bump after Elizabeth Kay was told she wasn't "medically fit" to be a match for Camille. She told Patch at first she felt crushed and cried.

"Thankfully, my wonderful sister-in-law, Elizabeth, was a close match. However after further testing, she wasn’t quite perfect. But through the Paired Kidney Exchange Program, she was still able to donate her kidney so mom will be able to get hers sooner. Elizabeth is our hero and light through all of this," the post said.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, the Paired Kidney Exchange program works if the recipient from one pair of a donor and recipient combo is compatible with a donor from another pair. The transplant center may arrange for a "swap," with two simultaneous transplants taking place.

This allows two transplant candidates to receive organs and two donors to give organs.

'Everyone's mom'

It is no surprise so many people jumped at the chance to help Hamme.

Stenz, in the post, said her mother is the kindest, funniest, most compassionate woman you will ever meet.

"She loves her family and friends fiercely, and would do anything for anybody. In fact, she is so giving that it is incredibly hard for her to rely on others now," the post said.

It took a lot of convincing from her family and friends to allow them to set up a fundraising page.

"She is the epitome of selflessness. To know her is to love her — she is everyone's mom," Kay told Patch in a previous interview.

She described her mother-in-law as someone who acknowledges everyone's existence. Camille goes out of her way to ask everyone how they are doing and actively listens.

In Kay's family, she said Hamme, the matriarch, is the "heart" of the family and what holds them together. She is the one who organizes family gatherings and birthdays.

"She is a hugger. COVID is really hard, since her love language is physical touch," Kay told Patch.
Kay added that Hamme is full of positivity and loves life. Her personality puts everyone at ease and makes a bad day better.

"She is sunshine; she makes the room brighter," Kay said.

Hamme's family wants to take away some of the stress experienced.

"There will be a lot of time off work, a lot of trips and extended stays in Madison (where the transplant is being done), and a lot of medical bills.

My mom and dad are the strongest, most selfless people I know. They have been through so much together and are still the happiest couple I’ve ever met. To be in their presence is to know and see true love. Please help us give a little bit of that love back to them," the post said.

Kay told Patch on Tuesday she is 90% excited and 10% nervous but feels grateful to the person who is donating a kidney for Hamme.

"I’m thrilled to know that she’s getting a new, healthy kidney! This will change her quality of life immensely! I’m also excited for my recipient in Kentucky and hopeful that their recovery goes well and that my kidney will provide that person with many healthy years. My nerves are because I’ve never had a surgery before and I just hope that it all goes smoothly and that my recovery isn’t too long or difficult," Kay told Patch.

For more information on the program, visit the National Kidney Foundation of Wisconsin. To hear Kay talk about her story, visit her blog at 99.1 The Mix.

Editor's Note: GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner.