When John and Nancy Brook brought their daughter, Jody, to the hospital due to a bad case of stomach flu, they had no idea what was in store for them.

What began as a trip to the emergency room over concern that the six-year-old was dehydrated, became a two-year bout with a disease that resulted in a kidney transplant for Jody. Although the experience was daunting, Jody made it through with the help of her family and caregivers at Mayo Clinic. Now she's back to enjoying being a kid, as well as offering support to other children who face hospitalization.

When the Brook arrived at Saint Marys Hospital — part of Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. — Jody had been vomiting excessively and had a high fever. Physicians performed a battery of tests and blood work. After treating Jody for dehydration, they sent the family home with instructions to return in a month for follow-up.

At that follow-up exam, Jody felt fine. But, her doctors discovered a cause for concern. They found that Jody's creatinine level was high, a sign of possible kidney problems. The family was referred to Dawn Milliner, M.D., a Mayo Clinic pediatric nephrologist. After further evaluation, Jody was diagnosed with global glomerulosclerosis, a disease that causes the kidneys to fill with scar tissue and, eventually, leads to kidney failure.

"Before she was diagnosed, Jody didn't have any symptoms relating to her kidneys," says Nancy Brook. "If it hadn't been for that trip to the hospital because of the flu — which was completely unrelated — we wouldn't have known there was a problem until much later."

Dr. Milliner was able to manage Jody's condition with medication, but only for a limited time. A transplant was in her future; the question was when. "The medications made it so Jody could live a normal life," says Nancy. "No dialysis. Nothing slowed her down. The day before she had her transplant, we went rollerblading."

The need for a donor

Within two years of her diagnosis, the disease reduced Jody's kidney function to less than ten percent of normal levels. In May 2003, when Jody was eight years old, the medication that had kept her active and feeling well could no longer hold back the inevitable. The time for a transplant had come.

"When my mom and dad told me I had to have a kidney transplant, at first I was mad because I had to miss school," says Jody. "But, I knew I had to have the transplant, and that I would get through it okay."

John and Nancy began making preparations for one of them to be Jody's donor. "When we were told to start planning for the transplant, Tim and I just assumed one of us would be donating," says Nancy. "We went through the testing and found my blood is type A, Tim is B and Jody is O. Neither of us was a match for her. That was a devastating blow."

Enter John’s brother, Paul Brook. "When John and Nancy found out that they couldn't donate, a bunch of the family got tested. I was one of the first that matched Jody's blood type," says Paul. "I never questioned whether I would or wouldn't donate. Jody is my goddaughter. If it worked out, I'd do it."

Success all around

With a suitable donor, the Brook were able to move forward, and the transplant took place May 15, 2003. After the procedure, Jody remained at Mayo Eugenio Litta Children's Hospital for seven days.

"One week in the hospital seemed like a long time. But, the doctors and nurses were great," says Jody. "One nurse even painted my toenails."

Although the transplant was a success, the experience wasn't an easy one for the Brook. "Jody did recover quite well considering all she went through. Emotionally, though, it was one of the most difficult things we've ever encountered," says Nancy. "But, the staff in the transplant unit was excellent. They were super to Jody, and that's what John and I needed to see — people taking good care of her."

For Paul, the process of donating a kidney went smoothly. "They did the operation Thursday, and I went home Saturday," he says. "I rode my motorcycle five days after the surgery, and I was back to work after only a week off."

Since the transplant, both Jody and Paul have enjoyed good health. "They told me the only things I can't do are play professional football or ride bulls," says Jody. "And, I wasn't going to do that anyway."