Mrs. Johnson (seated) with Elmore County High School staff

Before Mrs. Johnson’s kidneys started to fail in 2020, she “had barely taken a Tylenol.” Used to being healthy and working a full-time job at Elmore County High School. Thankfully she had a large support system of family and friends. Her youngest son ended up being a donor match, so the process began quickly. Her son is starting medical school, and she knows this experience will only help him as he becomes a doctor.

Being from Enterprise, Alabama, her family would have had difficulty traveling to help her prepare for surgery and recover. “I never could have stayed at a hotel this long. I’d have gone crazy. Y’all were a blessing to our family,” says Mrs. Johnson. Mr. Johnson, the chef of the family, was able to cook spaghetti and take care of Mrs. Johnson as each of Red Mountain Grace apartments are fully furnished and stocked with cooking equipment. 

“UAB has been awesome,” says Mrs. Johnson. They provided personal care and explained all of her procedures in detail. She was amazed at the level of care and concern they showed. “Birmingham gets a bad rap,” in Enterprise, “but it’s not bad at all.” With incredible restaurants, world-class medical care, and beautiful scenery, Birmingham ended up appealing to Mrs. Johnson more than she expected. 

Her support system is what got her through treatment. She had over 500 people praying for her, even though she says she’s not the type of person to ask for help. “Red Mountain Grace has become a new family member,” but she is most grateful for her immediate family. As her son was her donor, she told him, “I gave you life. Now you’re giving me life.” 

Mrs. Johnson is now on the road to recovery, and we are thrilled about her progress. Help us continue to support families like the Johnsons by joining the Neighborhood, where you can donate monthly. Learn more here!