Jennifer Matthews: All the pieces of 27-year-old Lakeisha Hall's life are finally coming together. At 15, she was told she was losing her kidneys.
Lakeisha Hall: It started out as a kidney infection, which then turned into a disease.
Jennifer Matthews: After that, her teen years were spent on dialysis.
Lakeisha Hall: At first it was hard. I didn't like it. I hated going on dialysis.
Jennifer Matthews: But it's a disease her entire family is fighting for her. Her sister, brother and mother have all donated their kidney to give Lakeisha a chance at the life she dreams of living.
Jaunita Hall: That is the hardest part, seeing her over and over again, never giving up.
Jennifer Matthews: Lakeisha, like many people waiting for kidney transplant, has high levels of anti-donor antibodies, caused by too many transfusions.
Dr. Stanley Jordan: These antibodies, they build up with cause rejection of the organs almost immediately.
Jennifer Matthews: But intravenous immunoglobulin therapy (IVIG), is giving patients new hope.
Dr. Stanley Jordan: IVIG is able to block these antibodies and allow people to get a transplant when the antibodies are low.
Jennifer Matthews: During two, four-hour dialysis treatments, patients are given blood containing a mix of immunoglobulins, which block harmful antibodies from injuring a donated kidney.
IVIG allowed Lakeisha to go ahead with her kidney transplant and now, she's making plans for the future.
Lakeisha Hall: I want to go on vacation. I want to go on vacation with no dialysis.
Jennifer Matthews: And with that, Jamaica here she comes! This is Jennifer Matthews reporting.
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