Sisters recovering after one gives other a lifesaving kidney

The family won't allow the genetic defect to rule them.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
HEREDITARY DISEASE, TWO transplants and the loss of a loved one have brought a heightened level of togetherness and deep religious dependence for the family of Boardman resident Edith Renfrew.
Renfrew and her daughters, Linda Renfrew, Bonnie Lohr and Becky Nelms, have been coping with polycistic kidney -- a disease that develops cysts in the kidneys and diminishes kidney function over time -- for three generations. The disease contributed to the death of Duane Renfrew, Edith's husband and father of the three daughters.
Edith Renfrew said the disease was first discovered in her husband in 1960, immediately after the birth of their youngest daughter, Lohr. She said doctors determined it was the genetic disease, but could not trace the gene that causes it back through his family.
The learning process had only begun for the family.
What happened
DUANE RENFREW MANAGED the disease for 18 years before going on dialyses in 1978. He received a kidney transplant in 1979, but died in 1993 from a brain tumor.
The family regrouped and carried on with life, but later learned that two of the sisters, Lohr and Nelms, inherited the gene for polycistic kidney from their father. Linda Renfrew does not carry the gene.
"We have just learned to cope with it, that is about all you can do," said Edith Renfrew.
Linda Renfrew said the circumstances have brought the family to an entirely new level of closeness. Everybody, she said, must always know where everybody is and exactly how each person is doing.
Linda Renfrew said the family has made it a point not to allow the genetic defect to control their lives -- even when doctors determined that Nelms would need a kidney transplant.
"I have known for a long time that it was a possibility because it is genetic and progresses," said Nelms. "The doctors said I would need to go on dialysis and Linda asked what she could do, then offered to donate a kidney."
Sustained by faith
IN THE SPIRIT OF CARRYING ON with life as normal, both sisters worked full-time and continued with all other duties right up until the day of the surgery -- despite Nelms' progressively worsening kidney.
Linda Renfrew, stroking the cross hanging from her neck, received as a gift from Nelms, said faith made it possible.
"I just turned it all over to God, so I wasn't in charge. I just let him handle it and everything turned out well," she said.
Both sisters are home and recovering rapidly.
The family is now looking at the third generation of polycistic kidney with the diagnoses of Nelms' 15-year-old daughter. The teen girl is the only diagnosis among the sisters' seven collective children.
Nelms said she is making her daughter aware of the possibilities associated with the disease but has faith that medicine will be more efficient by the time the teen has to seriously deal with the illness.
Edith Renfrew agrees. She has seen the advancements since her husband's transplant and how those advancements have helped her daughters. She says anything is possible for the future.
jgoodwin@vindy.com