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ORGAN ORGAN
DONATION DONATION

emotional difficulties of her illness, Kana said, “The mind is so powerful The love story continues. Kana and Danny are still at UTHSA.
over the body. Using meditation and breathing exercises helped me.” Danny is an Associate Professor and Director of the Pediatric Kidney
She was excited to complete her training, and Danny encouraged Transplant Program, continuing to be inspired by his wife and helping
her to apply to residency programs, telling her, “My kidney will serve save lives of children and adolescents with chronic kidney disease. Kana
so many lives through you.” In 2010, Kana began Internal Medicine described her joy in life, “I am amazed I have come this far. I have a pas-
residency at UT Health San Antonio (UTHSA). Danny joined the sion for medicine.” Kana’s passion is evident in her work, teaching res-
university as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics. idents and medical students and caring for patients as an Associate
April will be a special month for Kana and Danny. It will be 15 years Professor and hospitalist at University Hospital. She recently became
since he donated his kidney to his wife. April is also National Donate a certified Professional Life Coach to help others going through per-
Life Month. Donate Life America, a national non-profit organization, sonal and professional issues. Kana said, “I have cared for thousands of
focuses attention on the public to become organ, eye and tissue patients, and if I can teach one learner, then they will go and help thou-
donors, and honors those who have saved lives through donation sands more.” She added, as she laid her hand on her abdomen, “And I
(https://donatelife.net/celebrations-and-observances/april-is-na- always have Danny with me.”
tional-donate-life-month/). Living donor kidney transplants increase
the number of organs available for individuals on the waitlist. While Kristy Y. Kosub, MD, is a Faculty Associate at the Charles E.
living kidney donors can potentially face medical and emotional risks, Cheever Jr. Center for Medical Humanities & Ethics, a member
they also experience the immense reward of positively impacting some- of the Bexar County Medical Society and serves on the BCMS
one’s life. Advantages of a living donor kidney include less time on Publications Committee.
dialysis, less time to transplantation, a healthier organ, and improved
Opposite page: Danny Ranch and Kana Kornsawad with their
health outcomes for the recipient. As of July 2023, 8,289 individuals
A Love Story were on the kidney transplant waiting list in Texas — the second high- precious Camille.
est in the nation.

By Kristy Y. Kosub, MD
F ifteen years ago, Dr. Kanapa (Kana) Kornsawad received a special in an underserved Thai community. Her disease worsened, however,

and she decided to put residency training on hold temporarily. Kana
gift for which she is forever grateful and has inspired her work in
medicine. Her story begins in Bangkok, Thailand, where she was
born. Kana’s parents struggled economically but were committed to and Danny returned to the United States. Danny completed his Pedi-
atrics residency in Nevada, followed by a move to San Francisco for a
their children having an education, even borrowing money to pay tu- nephrology fellowship, while Kana worked as a research coordinator.
ition at private schools to ensure Kana could go to university. Kana first Unfortunately, Kana’s kidney function continued to decline and she
expressed her dream to be a doctor at four years of age. She remembers was faced with having to start dialysis. She experienced constant muscle
her father going to the hospital with asthma exacerbations because he cramps, insomnia and fatigue. As she expressed her fears to Danny, he
could not afford regular primary care. Seeing the inner workings of the did not hesitate, replying, “You don’t need dialysis. You’re going to get
hospital over time inspired Kana to care for others in the same way. my kidney.” And on April 29, 2009, Kana received her husband’s left
Kana was an excellent student. She entered Pharmacy School at the kidney. She recalled the tremendous anxiety of the experience, sharing,
age of 16 and after graduating, worked for two years as a pharmacist “I remember the anesthesiologist telling me, ‘Take a good nap and we’ll
before being accepted into medical school at Faculty of Medicine, Chu- see you on the other side.’ After I woke up from surgery, I felt tremen-
lalongkorn University in Bangkok. Life was beautiful. She was on her dous pain and the first thing I said was, ‘Where’s Danny?’” Danny re-
path to be a doctor and fell in love with Daniel (Danny) Ranch, a fellow cuperated well and was discharged from the hospital two days later.
student. In 1999, during her third year of medical school, Kana devel- Kana was released in three days.
oped an upper respiratory infection followed by abdominal pain. She The early years, post-transplant, were filled with regular clinic visits,
was discovered to have microscopic hematuria and ultimately received blood draws, strict diet and exercise, and up to 20 pills daily of immuno-
a diagnosis of IgA nephropathy, the most common form of primary suppressant medications to prevent rejection. Kana says that her expe-
glomerulonephritis and a major cause of chronic kidney disease and rience allowed her to learn the other side of medicine — the patient’s
kidney failure. Kana was treated with medications, graduated from perspective. She understands the uncertainty and fear that patients feel
medical school, and began her post-graduate year of service working during illness. When asked what helped her cope with physical and

24 SAN ANTONIO MEDICINE • February 2024 Visit us at www.bcms.org 25