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Feline kidney transplants are marriage of love and science
By Phyllis DeGioia
April 21, 2009
Pepper, a 9-year old black cat, and her “mom” Peggy Iden flew from Colorado to Madison, Wisconsin for one reason: Pepper needs a new kidney, and the UW School of Veterinary Medicine is the place to have that surgery done. (UC Davis also does them, but their program is on hold right now while they look for a new surgeon.) At UW they have done about 70 kidney transplants since 1995.
Pepper and Peggy arrived a week and a half ago. The surgery was supposed to take place last Tuesday, but it was delayed because they found a spot in Pepper’s lung x-ray. After deciding that it won’t interfere with the transplant, Pepper was given the green light for surgery today. I’m waiting a bit nervously for Peggy’s call to let me know – I hope to God – that all went well. The surgery is not without risks. This afternoon they told Peggy that the 5 to 6 hour surgery was going well. Pepper’s surgical team has a minimum of seven people: three surgeons, anesthesiologists, one lucky student, a tech, and whoever else is needed at specific times.
Pepper’s prognosis depends on many factors. So far two recipient cats have survived 9 years post-transplant, and one of them was 10 when he got the kidney, the other was 3. Some died of unrelated problems a few months later. About 80 percent survive to leave the hospital.
Although Pepper will remain hospitalized for almost another month, Peggy will go home in a couple of days. When she does, she’ll take Badger with her. He’s the 11-month old donor cat (Badger’s current name is Tau but Peggy wants to name him after the University of Wisconsin mascot.) That’s the deal: you take a kidney, you take the donor cat. You can use one of your own cats as the donor, or a sibling, but their blood has to be compatible. Badger is from a company that breeds research animals for health and temperament; Badger has not been in any research, but the doctors have to know his exact medical and life history. About a dozen people have supplied their own donor cat. Peggy has five other cats at home, but is more than willing to take Badger too if it means she will be able to keep her favorite cat for a few more years. Badger was also neutered this morning.
She thought about the transplant carefully, and whether or not it was right approach. Some friends cautioned her that it might be too stressful for both her and Pepper, but Peggy concluded that each of them were strong enough to handle it.
Peggy’s veterinarian did the research and worked with the vet school’s transplant coordinator, an unsung hero named Gerianne Holzman. The school does enough of these surgeries – about six a year – to need a transplant coordinator. To say this is an expensive surgery is an understatement. Peggy figures that by the time all is said and done, she’ll spend almost $15,000 at the vet school, plus fly here twice and stay in a motel. The follow up blood work and immunosuppressive drugs that Pepper must take for the rest of her life range from $1000 to $1500 a year. It’s not that Peggy doesn’t care about the money, but she’s 80 and has no children, spouse, or siblings. She’s a fascinating woman with a PhD in education whose knees were hurt this winter when another skier ran into her, and a few weeks ago she fell off her roof after cleaning snow out of her satellite dish. She spends her retirement volunteering for animal-related organizations and being physically active. Right now what matters most to Peggy is that she can do something about Pepper’s chronic renal failure. The equation is simple enough: Pepper needs a new kidney, Peggy needs Pepper, and Peggy can manage it, even though it’s not financially easy. What is money for if you can’t spend it on what you love most?
Some people believe this surgery is over the top because they think that kind of money could be used better elsewhere to help hundreds of cats instead of one. I think this transplant is a silent but emphatic testament to the human-animal bond, a demonstration of love meeting science that extends the boundaries of the human heart. If a critic believes that people should help numerous unknown cats instead of their own favorite one, I question the critic’s commitment to intimate relationships.
Peggy can’t say enough about how wonderful everyone at the vet school has been, from the surgeons to the vet techs to the transplant coordinator. High on her list of folks to thank is Mike, the 34-year old vet student who called her twice a day to update her on Pepper’s status. (Mike is going to be a great veterinarian. He has clinical knowledge and terrific communication skills, and will excel at whatever he chooses to do.)
Finally, there’s the phone.
Pepper came through the surgery well. The first 24 hours are critical, and the first month almost as critical. Zen and prayers for Pepper, and others like her who need a kidney and won’t get one, would be most appreciated.
Update: Pepper died during the night. Peggy will return to Colorado tomorrow with Badger.
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Great story!
I, myself, think we are free to choose.
If we want to help our beloved survive longer, it is our right.
If we want to save a lot of cats instead of just one, it is also our right.
It beats me why some people want to decide for others what is right in this or similar situations.
I add my hopeful thoughts for Pepper, also. May the cat survive and live a long, long life.
Comment by Colorado Transplant — April 21, 2009 @ 7:28 pm
I couldn’t agree more, CT.
I was the recipient of a number of “better spent elsewhere” comments years ago when we trapped a young feral with multiple chronic conditions and elected to socialize instead of euthanize.
Today, T (who will be celebrating his eighth birthday sometime this year) is alive and well (and presently kneading my leg to bits), and we couldn’t be happier with our decision to keep him.
We have spent more on him than we have on our other two, but not obscenely so. That money could have been spent on other animals, but IMO, that doesn’t make T any less worthy a recipient.
Ironically, I watched one of the rudest offenders in the “euthanize it, adopt a healthy one, and put that money to better use” camp drive off in a brand new Escalade. (Wonder how many cats could have been saved with all that $!)
The bottom line? It’s her money. If she’d rather spend it on a pricey surgical procedure than a flashy car or charitable donations, that’s her prerogative.
Here’s wishing all the best to Pepper and family, and hoping Badger’s integration is a smooth one. :)
Comment by 3FabulousFelines — April 21, 2009 @ 8:15 pm
And you might as well spend it while you’re alive, because after you’re dead, the courts might just override your wishes and let your trustees spend it on causes other than the ones you had specified in your last wishes:
http://online.wsj.com/article/.....lenews_wsj
Comment by The OTHER Pat — April 21, 2009 @ 9:05 pm
Great point Pat…
What I think it boils down to is - who the heck are we to judge?
Penn and Teller did a GREAT episode of Bull$*#! where the topic of the day was pet ownership. They investigated crazy cat people (and oh, they found them some real funny interviews…) dog rescuers and all the in-betweens.
At the end, they brought up the same argument - although their question was how can people spend all this money on their pets when so many PEOPLE need help? They answered their own question - pointing out that one of them had several hundred thousands worth of records, and the other had a car collection. No one was bugging them about giving all their money to charity, and certainly their purchases were far more extravagant and self-indulgent.
I made this point on another board recently - although regarding a different subject - who are we to judge another’s decision or situation? I retain the right to “judge” animal abusers, however - but provided the non-speaking individuals in the equation are being well cared for, I think the worst any of us can rightfully say is “I would have made a different choice.”
Long Live Pepper and Badger - and shame on anyone who thinks they have the right to impose their own moral values on anyone else.
Comment by Kim — April 22, 2009 @ 6:34 am
Phyllis, I am so sorry that Pepper didn’t make it. I’m sure not only you and your friends but also everyone involved at UW is grieving the loss.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — April 22, 2009 @ 9:12 am
I’m so sorry!
Comment by The OTHER Pat — April 22, 2009 @ 9:17 am
I have to say something here people might not like.
I’m not looking at this from the point of view of someone who thinks money should go elsewhere or arguing about how people may be perceived as overindulging their pets. I volunteer with a rescue and a zoo and donate to wildlife and animal charities. I also have had pets my entire adult life.
It really bothers me that there is the potential for an industry (albeit small) that is causing more cats to be born and commoditized and that is taking organs out of those cats’ bodies when they are incapable of consent.
Comment by Elaine — April 22, 2009 @ 12:03 pm
Elaine, what I took out of Phyllis’ post was that Badger was from a company that bred cats to be used for research projects in general rather than a company that was specifically breeding kidney donor cats. So unless the day comes when all research on animals is ended, I seriously doubt that the small number of cats used as donors will have much of an impact on these company’s business either way.
The question of using animals in research - while related - is a different one than that which is posed in this thread.
Comment by The OTHER Pat — April 22, 2009 @ 12:48 pm
People spend thousands on art, custom furniture and cars. But spend 10-15K on a pet and everyone has a snit fit.
Tough. It’s a personal decision. Period.
If it is somehow wrong to spend the money helping one cat when others are in shelters etc… then the same argument could be made that no parent should spend extravagantly on trips, coming out parties etc… while other children need anything.
I am all for charity, but it must be freely given by choice, not forced or wrested from people. Free choice. My pets, my children, my money, my decision, my business.
Tomorrow I’m off to the surgeon with my seven year old dog who still has not grown out of his dumb-ass “I can fly!” mentality with what we think is a ruptured digital extensor tendon. I expect to part with a chunk of cash and acquire a few more gray hairs. It might cost a thousand, it might cost a lot more. My pet, my money, my choice.
Comment by JenniferJ — April 22, 2009 @ 9:22 pm
I am so sorry, Phyllis, that Pepper didn’t make it, but it does warm my heart to think of Badger going to a new, loving home. By the sounds of it, Peggy is going to be around for a long time yet, with her attitude towards life.
I get ticked off when people rant about spending “that kind of money” on an animal. Before anyone starts judging the decisions of a pet owner, they can bloody well judge the decisions of the luxury-vehicle owner, the humungous-house owner, the owner. People should be able to spend their own money as they see fit, without judgment. Have a good look in the mirror before you start questioning the financial decisions of others.
I hope that, if nothing else, research was furthered by and things were learned from Pepper’s operation.
Comment by Natalie R — April 23, 2009 @ 5:27 am
I am deeply sorry about Pepper.
Hopefully, Badger will have a good life with his newly-found family.
Comment by Colorado Transplant — April 23, 2009 @ 5:28 am
Elaine, I understand your concern about an animal not being able to give consent. For me, the benefit of saving the beloved cat outweighs the lack of consent. It also takes a cat out of research and into a home setting.
I went to dinner with Peggy last night. She is holding up remarkably well despite being devastated. I cried all day. We talked a lot about her other cats and how Badger would fit in. Needless to say, Peggy can’t wait to get home.
Comment by Phyllis DeGioia — April 23, 2009 @ 6:02 am
I am so sorry to hear about Pepper. Peggy did literally everything she could.
Comment by JenniferJ — April 23, 2009 @ 10:16 am
I am SO sorry Pepper didn’t make it. That has to be heartbreaking. Our Gordy is almost 2 years post transplant. It’s been a real roller coaster but I’d do it again in a minute. Our donor cat Jack came from death row at a PA shelter (Penn maintains a donor color of shelter cats that it uses as donors) so having the surgery done at Penn literally means saving 2 lives. I refuse to entertain anyone’s complaints about the money spent. Some people take expensive vacations, drive expensive cars and buy expensive “toys”. Instead, we take good care of our cats and donate much time and money to cat rescue organizations. We do our part and then some.
Comment by MaryA — August 4, 2009 @ 10:45 am