METHUEN — Melody and Alison Byron have much in common as young women, sisters and college students.
Soon, Alison will share something else with Melody — a healthy kidney. For Melody, 20, it will be the second time a family member has saved her life.
In 1995, Melody's father, Patrick Byron of South Lawrence, donated a kidney to his then 7-year-old daughter. Melody was diagnosed with a rare childhood disease that left her with chronic failure in both kidneys.
Thirteen years ago, the organ transplant and the young girl's recovery were tremendously successful. However, a kidney donation only lasts between 10 to 15 years. As Melody suffers from renal failure again, she will now turn to Alison, 19, for another healthy kidney. That surgery will take place in the next two years.
But during that waiting period, neither Melody nor anyone in her family intends to sit idle.
"People don't realize that kidney disease is an incurable disease," said Mary Jo Coady, Melody and Alison's mother.
This weekend, dozens of Melody's family members and friends will walk with her to raise money for the National Kidney Foundation. On Sunday, the team, dubbed "Mel's Pals," will walk at the Franklin Park Zoo to raise money for kidney testing, education and research.
Some 26 million Americans have kidney disease. Another 20 million are at risk, according to the kidney foundation's statistics.
But Melody wants to change that. In fact, she issued a challenge to anyone who reads her story.
"I challenge them to donate to the kidney foundation," she said. "Even the smallest donations are appreciated."
When she had her first kidney transplant, Melody was a second-grader. Over the years, Melody had medical checkups every four months. She was told to avoid contact sports, but plays guitar and dabbled in acting as a youngster. She tried not to make kidney disease the focal point in her life. She also shared details of her condition with those very close to her.
She also had a pet dog, a pug named Rocky, who stayed by her side for more than a decade. Two months ago, he died.
"He was a good dog," Melody said.
Melody is now a student at Northern Essex Community College. She hopes to pursue a career in nursing and perhaps even work someday in a kidney unit. She admires Linda Mazola, a kidney nurse at Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, where she underwent surgery. She also keeps a close eye on genetics and stem cell research in the hope that someday the cure for kidney disease will be found in such research.
"I read bits and pieces of things," she said.
Meanwhile, her sister attends Merrimack College and hasn't yet declared a major. Facing surgery makes her both proud and nervous.
"It's obviously scary to know I'm having surgery," Alison said. "But it's great to know I'm going to be able to help my sister."
Help Mel's Pals
Melody's aunt, Sharon Birchall, has set up a local fund for the National Kidney Foundation at the Lawrence Firefighters Credit Union. Checks should be made out to National Kidney Foundation and send to Lawrence Firefighters Credit Union, 14 Amesbury St., Lawrence, MA 01840.
More information on kidney disease and this weekend's walk can be accessed at www.kidney.org.
Chronic kidney disease is a public health problem affecting 26 million Americans.
Risk factors include diabetes, high blood pressure and family history.
One in nine American adults have kidney disease and most don't know it.
92,000 people are waiting for organ transplants.
17 people die each day waiting for an organ transplant.
Source: National Kidney Foundation
