rom hearing the drip of the IV bag to the prodding of sharp needles into her skin, English teacher Monica Kauffman overcame many challenges last year. Her health journey turned a corner leading her to a fresh start, with radiance and energy for another school year.
“I’m excited to be back. I was so sick last year, but I just pushed through it,” she said.
After countless doctor’s appointments and relentless periods of pain in the fall of 2023, Kauffman became sick, leading to her hospitalization at Lakeside Hospital on Oct. 9. She was diagnosed with kidney failure, a condition in which the kidneys lose the ability to remove waste and balance fluids. This diagnosis meant Kauffman had to begin dialysis, a harsh process that completed the work of kidneys. She did dialysis for three hours, three times a week.
“Dialysis was a love-hate relationship. I loved it for the fact that it kept me alive, but I hated the fact I had to give up so much time with my family every night,” she said.
The situation worsened and she was admitted at CHI Lakeside for 12 days, she fell into a coma with quadruple organ failure.
“My kidneys were shutting, and so were my liver, lungs, and heart,” Kaufman said.
Kauffman also delved into the horrific dreams that she had during her coma.
“I had horrible dreams… I was fighting death in all of them.”
She was transferred to CHI Bergan-Mercy to receive more intensive care, waking up from the coma on Oct. 30.Kauffman spent 16 days at Bergan-Mercy until she was transferred to Madonna Rehabilitation Center. After 10 days, she was discharged and was required to do outpatient physical and occupational therapy sessions.
“I was happy I wasn’t hooked up to all the machines, but I was also worried about if I went unresponsive. I was scared and wanted to get home, but deep down I was worried I never would,” she said.
She remained on dialysis for the next several months, throughout the winter and spring. While on her dialysis treatments, Kauffman remained fiercely committed to staying positive and going above and beyond to support her students in every way she could.
“I took that positive mentality the whole way through… being here kept everything normal,” Kauffman said “Even when I didn’t feel good, I knew I had to go. I have something to do here.”
Her ‘something’ was her students. Through every smile and frown, Kauffman pushed through the pain and hurt, writing plans and lessons for her substitutes and students.
Senior students in Kauffman’s AP English Language and Composition class continued to show determination throughout her absence.
“Mrs. Kauffman set clear boundaries from the first day, which were carried throughout the school year,” Senior Natalie Shnayder said. “We were always on task, even when she was gone, and those expectations helped us achieve a 90% pass rate on the exam.”
During this time, the students were helped by other teachers at MN. English teacher, Michael McCauley, was a resource for supporting Kauffman’s classes during her absence.
“I would often use my free period to teach her class, and even though she wasn’t always present, she set these expectations allowing her students to thrive,” he said.
Although her students were meeting high academic standards, Kauffman was still fighting. She realized that she wouldn’t be fully recovered unless she had a kidney transplant.
After months of doctor’s visits, labs, and evaluations, at 11:38 AM on May 15th, 2024, Kauffman was officially listed on the transplant list.
“I went on with my day and at 11:38 AM on May 16th, I got the call from UNMC saying they had a kidney for me.”
Kauffman reminisces on the emotions she felt during that moment.
“I was so excited to get the call because I knew I was one step closer to getting better. My sister was here at the school and I told her… she was excited, everyone in that office celebrated because I was listed.”
“While getting my blood taken in one arm, I was writing my sub plans for the last days of school,” she said.
After months of waiting and relentless pain, Kauffman was finally getting better, having received her new kidneys. Her nurses told her the new kidneys were small and had ‘no miles on them’, indicating that the new pair were possibly from a young child.
“It was really weird… I wasn’t sure how to feel since I was feeling better after being in so much pain, but I couldn’t imagine the pain the family was going through.”
Still, time moved forward, and eventually, after months and months of pain and hurt, Kauffman could finally return to her ‘normal, like going to football games and even dropping off and picking up her kids..’
“I’ve learned to never take anything for granted… every day is a gift,” she said.