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Before Octavia Cross came to Barnes-Jewish Hospital, she had more questions than answers. She had been told that her exhaustion, low creatinine levels, and severe sickness were caused by kidney damage. She was frustrated and scared when she first met Marcos Rothstein, MD, a WashU Medicine nephrologist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, on her quest to understand what was causing the damage.
An ultrasound with Dr. Rothstein confirmed kidney failure — one kidney was deflated, and the other was functional but damaged. As she left the lab, stunned and discouraged, Octavia sunk onto a bench outside the hospital lobby. When Dr. Rothstein spotted her as he was leaving, he stopped to reassure her that she had not been given a death sentence, and they would get through this together.
“Those words carried me,” Octavia says. They kept her strong through extensive testing that discovered the genetic cause of her kidney damage. With that knowledge, Octavia was ready to make a plan to manage her diagnosis however she could.
Staying Strong for Her Miracle
Under Dr. Rothstein’s exceptional care, she adjusted to a new normal that included a strict diet, along with medication to preserve kidney function. Still, Octavia prepared for the possibility of dialysis and transplant.
She participated in dialysis training and attended seminars to learn how to talk to people about organ donation.
“It’s a lot to take in on top of being worried about your health and trying to live a regular life,” Octavia says. “It takes a lot of discipline.”
She navigated family tragedies, uncertainties, and layoffs, all while managing her health meticulously. She talked about the importance of organ donation with everyone who would listen, and friends, relatives, and coworkers registered as organ donors. She even asked for organ donor registrations in lieu of gifts when she married the love of her life.
Octavia had managed her diagnosis expertly, but when her health worsened, she was put on the national kidney transplant list. She received two calls to potentially receive a transplant, but the third call changed her life. When she arrived at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Octavia was prepped for surgery.
“What a joy to call my job, close friends, and relatives to tell them that I would be receiving the gift of another chance at life today!” she says.
And Dr. Rothstein was by her side, as promised. “Dr. Rothstein and his team took excellent care of me,” Octavia says. “I could not have found a better, more knowledgeable source to work the miracle that God sent him to perform.”
Cherishing Her Second Chance
Years after receiving a new kidney, Octavia remains a “model transplantee” according to Dr. Rothstein, who still sees her for monthly checkups.
“I am so thankful for my donor and the entire team at BJC that propelled me to a healthier state of being,” she says. “I will forever be grateful.”
Octavia reflects on the long journey to her new life with gratitude. She cherishes the normalcy of a life with her husband that doesn’t have to revolve around her health.
“I cry through my story every time I’m reminded of the opportunity that has been bestowed upon me,” Octavia says. “My cup overflows with blessings.”