It is said that life’s tribulations can make a person stronger and more appreciative of life. This is undoubtedly the mindset of Scott and Melissa Anderson, of Sturgeon Lake, who, faced with a somber health issue, turned to each other for hope in overcoming its life-altering consequences. This Thanksgiving the Andersons have special reason to be thankful.

Their saga began in the spring of 2005, when Scott, 41, was given blood tests for an application for extra life insurance separate from his existing policy. To his surprise, the application was rejected in April because, he learned from the agent, his creatinine level was high. At the time, “I didn’t know what it meant,” said Scott.

Within days he met with his personal physician who concurred with the tests and explained that creatinine, a chemical waste molecule, refers to kidney functioning. Its level in the bloodstream will rise if there is impairment of the kidneys. On referreal to the Kidney Specialists of Minnesota in the Twin Cities, Scott underwent two kidney biopsies which showed renal kidney failure. His kidneys were functioning at 23 percent and toward end stage.

Our first thought was “fear,” said Melissa, his wife of 12 years. “It took a lot to figure what was happening.”

Scott had no reason to suspect that his kidneys had been failing over the years. Apparently the symptoms, which he reasoned related to the natural aging process, were so gradual over the years, “I didn’t have a clue.” Scott was initially placed on daily medication to temper any further loss of functioning. With his condition stabilized, his health issues remained status quo for the following four years.

During the time he was learning of his kidney troubles, Scott and Melissa, 33, were in the midst of relocating from their home in Andover. Between regular doctor visits and planning their move, “There was a lot of stress at the time,” he said. “It was tough not knowing what was wrong with me -- wondering if I was going to die.”

The couple moved to Sturgeon Lake in May of 2005, and for the following two years Scott would commute to Spring Lake Park School District, where he taught and was interim director of its Alternative Learning Center. His commute ended during the summer of 2007 when Scott began his position as K-12 principal at Willow River School.

It was during one of his regular appointments in April of 2009 with the kidney specialist, and just before a much-awaited golf outing, that Scott was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease. His doctor told him it was “time to go on the national kidney transplant list.” Although 15 percent level of functioning is the guideline for gaining a spot on the list, Scott’s functioning had decreased to 16 percent and, according to his specialist, “close enough” for transplant consideration. Scott’s alternative was kidney dialysis.

Before he could claim his spot on the waiting list, however, Scott endured an exhaustive set of procedures, tests, and classes to ensure he would be a healthy and viable candidate. Three months later he was eligible for placement on the list, but by last July “everything kind of ran together with Melissa,” he said.

Scott was told it usually takes an average of five years to find a donor match. Because of a shortage of donor kidneys, each year only a small percentage of people who need a transplant actually receive a kidney. According to the National Kidney Foundation, an estimated 350,000 people in the United States have end-stage renal disease, and in the year 2000 nearly 47,000 people were waiting for a transplant. About 67,000 people die of kidney failure every year.

When given the option of a living donor, Scott’s family and friends quickly lined up to get tested. Potential donors included his sister Vicki Rinkenberger, brother Bruce, Melissa, and her friend, who all started the process to check for donor compatibility. “We couldn’t just wait for a transplant,” said Melissa.

Some were rejected right away for various reasons, but it was his wife who had the same A positive blood type as Scott. As soon as Melissa heard the news, “She was on a mission to try and be the donor,” he said. “She wanted to donate for me.”

Without hesitation Melissa quickly pushed forward with the process, which included a thorough medical evaluation and a blood compatibility test that verified whether her and Scott’s blood would be well-matched for the transplant. “You can have the same blood type but still not be compatible,” Melissa explained. “If our blood didn’t get along, he wouldn’t be able to take my kidney.”

Once they received word that, “It was all okay,” said Melissa, “There was a sense of relief. Surgery was a reality.” The Andersons urged the team of doctors to plan for the transplant over the summer to accommodate Scott’s school year schedule. Melissa’s private practice in Moose Lake as a professional counselor in psychological services availed her to plan for the transplant at will.

“Once we found out Melissa was going to be the donor, it was quick,” said Scott. The transplant was scheduled for August 3 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. Prior to entering the operating room, the couple pledged their love, “And we said our goodbyes,” said Scott. He then remembers waking up in the recovery room, with his cart alongside Melissa’s.

“I have three kidneys now,” exclaimed Scott. His graft kidney was connected from his other kidneys, which remain but may eventually cease to function, as is often the case. As for the new one, it started working right away. “It’s functioning very, very well and at a normal level,” he said. “Melissa gave me a good kidney.”

Scott expressed his gratitude for Melissa’s generosity, saying, “How do you thank anyone, let alone your wife, for the gift of life?” He ponders a moment and says, “If we could get closer -- it’s drawn us closer than we were before. We’re best friends.”

People have told her that donating a kidney was a selfless act, but for Melissa, it wasn’t an option. “I wanted it to be me,” she said. Filled with emotion, she added, “To me it was selfish, because he’s my husband -- the love of my life. And I want him around.”

Usually the donor is discharged from the hospital sooner than the recipient, but in the Anderson’s case said Scott, “I actually got out a day before she did.” Melissa was discharged on August 8, after resolving stomach issues related to medication. Her first stay in a hospital for surgery was a success, and Melissa has completely recovered from her kidney donation.

The couple returned home to the care of Melissa’s mother, who nurtured them back to health for about a week. They realized full recovery was imminent and normal life would resume when a few weeks later Scott was able to prepare a meal for the two. “It was a huge deal for me to be able to function,” he said with glee.

One of the greatest concerns of a transplant recipient is that the body’s immune system will reject and attack the grafted kidney, which could destroy the organ. For this reason, Scott can expect to remain on kidney antirejection medication for the rest of his life, and his future includes routine blood tests and regular visits with his physician.

It was during a blood check at the end of August that Scott was met with his first post-surgery scare. His doctor discovered Scott’s creatinine level had risen, and the subsequent biopsy revealed a rejection spell. It was successfully treated, however, over a two week period at nearby Mercy Hospital in Moose Lake.

Scott resumed his post at Willow River School along with the teaching staff in September. But three weeks into the school year Scott’s creatinine level started rising again, and he noticed swelling in his leg. Biopsy this time was negative for rejection, however doctors discovered a small blood clot at his knee. His three-day stay in the hospital put him back on the road to recovery. Throughout his ordeal, said Scott, “The school has been very supportive.”

Scott has since learned to know his body and recognize the aches and pains, and he anticipates no further difficulties. His doctor gave him grateful news at his November 1 visit when he said, “Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year. We’ll see you in February.”

Scott is excited at the doctor’s news and says, “It is a nod of how well I’m coming along.”

Occasionally he feels overwhelmed and slightly “guilty” for accepting his wife’s kidney and asks her, “What can I do back for you?” Scott realizes the “phenominal” gift she handed him and adds, “I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to say thank you enough...”