By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
In 2002, Miranda Douglas learned through a routine physical that her kidneys had sustained ongoing damage since her birth.
“They did blood tests and found something irregular,” said Douglas, who was 32 years old at the time.
Douglas, who had no indications that something was wrong, was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease from urinary reflux that allowed urine in the bladder to flow back into the kidneys. Kidney specialists told her the issue likely went undiagnosed at birth.
The condition is normally treated with surgery to reimplant the ureters into the bladder. However, in Douglas’ case, it was too late.
“By that time, my kidneys were already too damaged,” she said.
Tests showed her right kidney had ceased to function at all and her left kidney was functioning at 36%.
But that was enough for Douglas, who lives in Rudolph, to continue leading a normal life. She worked at UPS. She fell in love and got married. She and her spouse adopted a child.
In 2009, Miranda and Nancy Douglas said their wedding vows and had their son, Steven, baptized in the same ceremony.
“We were formed as a union – the three of us,” Miranda said.
She retired from UPS after 27 years, and worked as a residential assistant at local homes for people with developmental disabilities. She decided to become a State Tested Nursing Aide, and now works in a nursing home facility.
“I wanted to make sure I was still giving back,” Miranda said, noting her motto in life is, “Give without expectations.”
To support others in the LGBTQ+ community, she was among the founders of BGO Pride, and served as its president.
Life was good.
Then in 2022, Miranda was hospitalized for four days with kidney failure. New tests at Cleveland Clinic showed the left kidney was now functioning at just 19%. And in February of last year, she got a urinary tract infection and her partially functioning kidney was damaged more.
“It seems like every time she gets sick, her (kidney function) numbers drop,” Nancy said of her wife. And the numbers never fully rebound.
Since then, Miranda’s health insurance coverage approved a kidney transplant procedure, so the next step now is more testing – and finding a donor. Her name will be put on the national donor list, and her family and friends are searching for prospective local donors who have Type O blood and tissue matches.
Miranda received a call from Cleveland Clinic on Friday morning that her kidney transplant testing will begin on April 14.
“There’s a lot of extensive testing,” she said.
Meanwhile, in preparation for all that lies ahead, Miranda has been focused on keeping herself as physically healthy and financially prepared as possible. She entered an online program promoting healthy eating, works to keep her blood pressure low without medication, and avoids crowds in order to prevent illness.
“I want to make sure I’m covering every base,” she said.
Meanwhile, Miranda still works full-time as an STNA at a nursing home facility, and plans to continue as long as she can. “I like helping people,” she said.
As advised, she applied for disability so she can afford the anti-rejection medications. “They want to make sure I’m set financially,” she said. “It’s been a fight. There are so many hoops you have to jump through.”
Her family is focused on helping Miranda through the physical and emotional challenges.
“We’re hoping for a viable kidney that can help Miranda get better,” Nancy said. “It’s been really sad. We all have to pull together and keep strong.”
“You keep me positive and knowing I’m worthy of this,” Miranda said to Nancy.
And son Steven pitched in the other day by bringing home a lot of fruits and vegetables for Miranda.
The family is hopeful that better times will return. Miranda misses taking part in community events and rejoining the Metroparks hiking group she used to participate in. “I want to go hiking,” she said.
She misses going to her church, First Presbyterian Church in Bowling Green, but she is too wiped out to attend after working third shift at the nursing home. And she looks forward to once again joining events held by BGO Pride.
“That’s something else I miss,” Miranda said.
But right now, her focus is on saving energy and staying healthy.
“I’m just so fatigued all the time,” from the anemia brought on by the chronic kidney disease.
Miranda is also getting support from friends, like Kenny Sheets, whom she met through BGO Pride.
“She is bubbly. She is really strong. She stands up for what she believes in. She wants to make a difference,” Sheets said of Miranda.
The two share a lot in common – being transgender, having kids with autism, and facing serious health issues.
“She keeps me going, and I keep her going,” Sheets said. “It’s been good to have her support, and I’d like to be there for her.”
Sheets does not have Type O blood, so he can’t be on the prospective donor list.
“I would in a heartbeat if I could,” he said. But he is hopeful a donor is found soon for his friend.
“She really does make a difference,” Sheets said of Miranda. “She may think she doesn’t, but she does.”
Anyone with interest in possibly donating a kidney, or wanting to know more may contact Douglas at mirandaallysendouglas@gmail.com
