New Book Chronicles Donor's Journey to Save Sister with PKD

New Book Chronicles Donor's Journey to Save Sister with PKD 

Suzanne Ruff, a longtime PKD Foundation volunteer, wrote The Reluctant Donor to raise awareness of PKD and organ donation.

On the day she found out her younger sister had been stricken by PKD, the same disease that had taken the life of their mother, Suzanne Ruff of Eden Prairie, Minn., offered to donate one of her kidneys to save her sister’s life.

During the 10 months that passed between the day that offer was made and the actual surgery, she considered backing out several times, but eventually went through with the surgery. More than five years later, both she and her sister, JoAnn, also an avid PKD Foundation volunteer, are doing great and celebrating the publication of Suzanne’s book about their journey. A portion of the proceeds from The Reluctant Donor (Beaver’s Pond Press, April 2010, $14.95) will go towards kidney disease research.

“This story is not so much about me as it is about my mother and her siblings, who taught my sisters and me how to handle this disease. I want anyone who is diagnosed with PKD now to know what it was like, to see how much progress has been made and to have hope,” Ruff said. 

Ruff's mother and two sisters, as well as several aunts and uncles and cousins have all needed kidney transplants because of PKD. 

The Reluctant Donor is available for purchase at Barnes and Noble, Borders, Amazon and at select independent bookstores. The book can also be purchased through the publisher’s website and at www.TheReluctantDonor.com.