Benefit dinner for new kidney recipient to be held
By Robbie McKay Lincoln News • May 16, 2019
MILLINOCKET – A local woman who has spent years caring for those in need has had one of her own most important needs filled: a new kidney.
Jodi Jandreau had been suffering in silence for years with Alport’s kidney disease, a hereditary illness. It was very difficult on both her and her husband Bobby as she wanted to keep out of the public eye. Her father had it, and while Jodi thought she might be a carrier, it wasn’t until complications during the childbirth of their son Anthony that the couple became aware that there might be a problem. After tests determined she did in fact have Alport’s, Jandreau became a candidate for a kidney transplant. Her husband, Bobby,was not a match for her, but supported her by joining a group of people willing to donate one of their kidneys for someone in need. It was through this program that Jaundreau got the call from Maine Medical that a living donor was giving a kidney and she was a match for it.
“We are incredibly grateful to the beautiful soul, that so selflessly felt compelled to give a complete stranger the ultimate gift of life…I will never be able to repay this debt,” said Jandreau, just hours before her surgery. “I will promise to always take the best care of this kidney, as my life depends on it. With this gift I am able to watch my son grow and live a “normal” life,” she said.
Now that the community is aware of the struggles the Jandreaus have been having, people are hosting a benefit dinner for the Jandreaus on Friday night, May 17 at 5 p.m. at the American Legion Riders Post 80, 970 Central Street in Millinocket. There will be a dinner and a dance as well as a dessert and silent auctions. There will also be information available for those interested in becoming kidney donors.
If you are unable to attend and would still like to make donations, you can do so by mailing them to Jandreau’s sister-in-law, Jessica Birmingham, 1123 Pattagumpus Road, Medway, Maine 04460.
###
About Millinocket Regional Hospital
Millinocket Regional Hospital (MRH) is a 25 bed Critical Access Hospital nestled at the base of Baxter State Park that provides vital healthcare services to those who live, work and play in the Katahdin Region. Beyond the friendly staff and award-winning patient care, MRH provides an impressive range of specialty and general services; with a recent expansion resulting in the addition of eight new specialties and a Walk-In Care facility. In 2018, MRH was awarded the Press Ganey ‘Guardian of Excellence Award’ for exceptional patient experience; a nationally-recognized symbol of achievement for hospitals who consistently perform within the top 5%. Providing jobs to approximately 250 people, MRH is the largest employer in the Katahdin Region and a crucial economic driver within its community. For more information, please visit www.mrhme.org or www.facebook.com/MillinocketRegionalHospital