Cindy Rehmer today. (submitted photo)

Twenty-five years ago, Cindy Rehmer of Waterloo found herself in a life-threatening situation.

“My kidneys shriveled up to the size of a peanut,” she said. “They really don’t know what happened. They think I may have had an infection and they missed it. But they don’t know for sure.”

After being put on dialysis, Rehmer became another name on a transplant waiting list.

“I felt like my dreams were over,” she said.

An average of 20 people per day die while waiting for an organ transplant. Rehmer felt this stress of waiting for a life-saving remedy, but said her support group carried her through the rough patch.

“I’m very blessed. I got lots of support from family, friends and the community,” she said. “The community means a lot to me. My mom and dad were rocks. (My mom) wouldn’t leave my side. She stayed with me until I got out of the hospital.”

Pictured is Cindy Rehmer while she was on dialysis before receiving her kidney transplant. (submitted photo)

Eventually, the news she had waited countless hours to hear came one fateful night.

“They called at 3:30 a.m. to say they had a possible match,” she said. “I got there and they did the blood tests … then they had me in surgery (later).”

While the most commonly told kidney transplant stories revolve around a patient and live donor, Rehmer tells a different tale.

“I had a cadaver donor and those usually only last nine or 10 years. So, this is a big deal for me,” she said.

Yes, 25 years later, her donated kidney continues to function at 100 percent. Many expert opinions differ on how long such a kidney should last. However, there is a consensus that a kidney transplanted from a living donor tends to last longer than from a deceased donor.

“It’s a miracle. (All of my doctors) say that,” she said. “I take my meds like I’m supposed to. I go to the doctor like I’m supposed to. I don’t do anything special.”

Sharon Braun of Smithton, who was Rehmer’s fifth grade teacher, said she is not surprised to see Rehmer still thriving.

“She’s never been one to sit back,” Braun said.

Rehmer said Braun visited her in the hospital after the surgery. Asked how she came to stay in touch with Braun after so many years, she shrugged it off and said, “I stay connected to a lot of my teachers.”

Post transplant, Rehmer takes no part of her life for granted, continuing her favorite activities of going to the zoo, spending time with her dog, Darcy, spending time with family and enjoying her job as a secretary at Human Support Services.

“There’s problems. There are side effects to the (kidney transplant medications),” she said. “One of them gave me diabetes. But I’m not hooked up to a machine.”

Her second chance at life also allows her to encourage others to become an organ donor.

“There are so many people in the community that I don’t think people realize are waiting or have had (a transplant),” Rehmer said.

For instance, she pointed to Avery Vogt of Waterloo, who is currently on dialysis and was added to the kidney transplant list only weeks ago. Vogt, 21, developed a condition in which both of his kidneys have stopped working.

“I can live the rest of my life on dialysis, so I’m not pressed in terms of getting one, but it’s better than doing dialysis every day,” Vogt said, adding that some of his family have agreed to see if they are a donor match.

Rehmer said she does not advocate for one particular organ donor website, but some sites include americantransplantfoundation.org, organdonor.gov or myast.org.

“(Become an organ donor) to help other people. It’s a miracle if you can,” she said.