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Diane Hick's two sisters suffered from kidney failure before passing, and her doctor saw similar complications in her. She worried she would face a similar fate, but a kidney transplant through Saint Luke's changed the game.

Five years ago, 66-year-old Diane Hicks had a health scare that turned out to be a turning point for her entire life. She learned she needed to seriously consider a kidney transplant to improve her overall health and life expectancy.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in five adults and one in six youths aged 6-17 experience mental health illness each year in the U.S.—and 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14.

Almost 30 years after his life-saving kidney transplant at Saint Luke's, Chris Paxton continues to express gratitude and raise awareness for organ donation through his participation in the Transplant Games of America.

Matthew Wilkinson, MD, a surgeon with Saint Luke’s kidney and liver transplant program, and Erica Sparks, a transplant coordinator with Saint Luke's, discuss the transplant process and importance of organ donation.

Anthony Weatherspoon, who received lifesaving heart and kidney transplants, is grateful for the gift of life this April.

"Jill asked, 'If this was your father where would you take him?' And [the doctor] said, 'Saint Luke’s in Kansas City.' And Saint Luke’s saved my life."

When Jackie, pictured with her son Brooks, was pregnant, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 chronic kidney disease. After Brooks was born and undergoing a kidney transplant, Jackie is back to enjoying life.

KSHB talked to one local woman diagnosed with a rare condition and Dr. Matthew Wilkinson on the fascinating surgery performed to treat it.