Area music teacher receives kidney from colleague

DE PERE - Sixth grade music students at Foxview Intermediate School in De Pere are getting in tune for the new semester.

But at times their minds have wandered from the sheet music.

"I was a little nervous for her, because it's a big deal," said Amy Webster, sixth grade orchestra student.

"I was worried for her, and I hope that the transplant went okay," said Loken Malin, sixth grade orchestra student.

"My labs got to the point where they weren't very good. And I needed to either go on dialysis or get a transplant," said Kris Liedtke, kidney recipient.

Kris Liedtke is a music instructor at the school who desperately needed a kidney transplant. She has a genetic disorder, called polycystic kidney disease, and her family members could not donate.

So she began a search for a new kidney and found it in a musical friend.

"They said your blood is the best match so far and then I had to go to Madison, and go to a days worth of additional testing," said Lynn Drewiske, music teacher and kidney donor.

It's amazing that Mrs. Liedtke was able to get her organ from someone she sees every week. Another teacher, in the same building, from the same department... What are the odds of that?

"Yeah, and we were an excellent match for each other," said Liedtke.

"We could have told them that," adds Drewiski, as they share a laugh.

This laughter is music to their ears. It's what they've used to help them get ready for their surgeries in October, and recover from them now.

"Oh, there's a lot of 'Oh my gosh' going on. It's very scary. This isn't something that's in your normal comfort zone," said Drewiski.

For Liedtke, it meant her headaches and nausea would be gone, and a normal life was within reach.

"It's a whole new life for me and for my family. I don't think there's a more special gift than that. It's a miracle. It really is," said Liedtke.

The miracle these two were a part of has also struck a chord with their students.

"It was just an amazing act of kindness and friendship that she was doing for her...something that just really puts a smile on your face," said Grace Landrum, sixth grade orchestra student.

"I couldn't not do it. This was something I knew I had to do. And when I knew I was the match, it's like, I'm proud to do it," said Drewiski, before adding with a joking smile, "But....what? Don't ask me again?"

Sharing laughter and this experience, these two will forever be in harmony.

Liedtke returned to school Monday, February 4.

Drewiski has been back teaching since December.

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