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Cicero Woman Receives Kidney Transplant From Neighbor Cicero Woman Completes Walking Challenge After Kidney Transplant

Two women in Cicero are connected through a life changing surgery.

By Moriah Humiston

Laurie Grulich at Albany Medical Center in 2020.
© 2020 Laurie Grulich

CICERO, N.Y. (NCC News) – This new year, Laurie Grulich and her family have spent their time walking around her neighborhood to complete a 150 mile walking challenge. For Grulich, this was her first completion of an exercise challenge since her kidney transplant in June. She was originally referred to Albany Medical Center when she first realized she was having kidney problems shortly after having her son, Carter.

“I got referred to a nephrologist in beginning of August,” Grulich said. “It was fine before, fine after. They assume it was just strictly from the pregnancy.”

With help from one of Gurlich’s friends, her husband Chris Schlecht went to Facebook to try and find a kidney donor. After three days of the post being up, the Facebook post had 27 applicants looking to help Gurlich. Little did Gurlich know that her donor match would be someone she’s close to. Her kidney donor, Summer, is a friend who lives a few doors down.

“I can’t speak highly enough about her and what she has done for the three of us,” Schlecht said. “She’s family now.”

With help from everyone in the neighborhood, Gurlich was greeted back at home in June after the successful transplant. Her son, eight-year-old Carter Schlecht, is grateful for the successful surgery.

“It helped my Mom stay alive,” he said.

Now, Gurlich and her family continue to walk together around the neighborhood, celebrating the success and health of Gurlich after the transplant one step at a time. They plan to begin another exercise challenge soon.

THIS NEW YEAR, LAURIE AND HER FAMILY HAVE SPENT THEIR TIME WALKING AROUND HER NEIGHBORHOOD

LAURIE GRULICH: AS A FAMILY WE WOULD WALK THAT CLOSE TO EVERYDAY IF IT WAS NICE ENOUGH OUT

IN FACT, SHE JUST FINISHED A CHALLENGE OF WALKING 150 MILES IN JUST A FEW MONTHS. THAT’S PRACTICALLY THE DISTANCE FROM SYRACUSE TO ALBANY MEDICAL CENTER, WHERE LAURIE SPENT A LOT OF TIME JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO AFTER HAVING KIDNEY PROBLEMS

GRULICH: I GOT REFFERED TO A NEPHROLOGIST IN BEGINNING OF AUGUST. IT WAS FINE BEFORE, FINE AFTER. THEY ASSUME IT WAS JUST STRICTLY FROM THE PREGNANCY.

AS LAURIE CONTINUED TO FEEL WORSE SHE WANTED TO BE THERE FOR HER ONLY CHILD CHILD AND KARATE EXTRAORDINAIRE, EIGHT YEAR OLD CARTER.

GRULICH: LIKE I WOULD FALL ASLEEP AT THE DINNER TABLE. I JUST FELT LIKE CRAP. BUT WE TRY TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE COULD FOR CARTER BECAUSE WE DIDN’T WANT HIM TO SEE HOW CRAPPY I FELT.

WITH HELP FROM ONE OF LAURIE’S FRIENDS, HER HUSBAND CHRIS WENT TO FACEBOOK TO TRY AND FIND A KIDNEY DONOR.

CHRIS: THERE WAS NO OTHER OPTION. SO I KINDA WORKED WITH HER. IF LAURIE GETS UPSET ILL DEAL WITH HER BUT WE HAVE TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN.

WITHIN THREE DAYS, THE FACEBOOK POST HAD 27 APPLICANTS LOOKING TO HELP LAURIE. LITTLE DID LAURIE KNOW THAT HER DONOR MATCH WOULD BE SOMEONE SHE’S CLOSE TO… BOTH IN FRIENDSHIP AND IN DISTANCE. HER KIDNEY DONOR LIVING JUST A FEW HOUSES DOWN.

SUMMER WAS THE FIRST APPLICANT TO SIGN UP FROM CHRIS’ FACEBOOK POST. SHE AND LAURIE KNEW ONE ANOTHER FROM THEIR KIDS BEING FRIENDS AT SCHOOL. NOW, NOT ONLY ARE THE NEIGHBORS, BUT ALSO FAMILY.

CHRIS: IT’S… I CAN’T SPEAK HIGHLY ENOUGH ABOUT HER AND WHAT SHE HAS DONE FOR THE THREE OF US.

CARTER SAYS THAT HE’S ALSO THANKFUL FOR SUMMER HIS BEST FRIEND HARPER’S MOM.

“BECAUSE IT HELPED MY MOM STAY ALIVE”

FINALLY WITH HELP FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD, CARTER AND CHRIS WELCOMED LAURIE HOME IN JUNE.

“I LOVE MY MOM BECAUSE SHE’S LIKE VERY KIND TO PEOPLE”

NOW, LAURIE IS HEALTHY AND CARTER GOES ON WALKS WITH HIS MOM, LEARNING TO BE KIND EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. REPORTING FROM SYRACUSE, MORIAH HUMISTON, NCC NEWS.

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