An Orlando teenager can once again eat her favorite foods this Thanksgiving after a life-saving kidney transplant at the AdventHealth Transplant Institute. Jermila Pompey, 18, was discovered to have stage three kidney failure after a school physical in 2017 showed she had abnormally high blood pressure.
“I was still 11. So, it's like, oh my gosh, am I going to die? And I broke down. I was screaming, I didn't know what to do,” Pompey said. She gave up sports and dealt with social anxiety and emotional swings. “Definitely tough. And I just felt myself crying and always giving up all the time. Nothing felt normal to me.”
“I asked God to heal my baby. I knew she was dealing with something that I couldn't do anything about,” said her mother, Keenya Davis.
The first Thanksgiving after her diagnosis, Davis says things got worse. That’s when doctors broke the news about a restrictive diet.
“No yams. Too high in potassium! No fried foods. No high potassium vegetables or fruits. I was angry,” Pompey said. “I don't care what anybody says, yams are the best thing, my favorite thing to eat!”
“She was upset. She was angry with everyone,” Davis said.
A few weeks before Pompey’s 18th birthday the family found a path to hope when her doctors referred her to AdventHealth Transplant Institute, Orlando’s only solid-organ transplant program, where she was placed on the kidney transplant waiting list.
“Her kidney function was about 20% of what it should have been for a teenager,” said Dr. Thomas Chin, kidney transplant medical director at the AdventHealth Transplant Institute.
Three weeks after her 18th birthday, Jermila received her transplant – a new kidney.
“I was praying, praying, praying, always been like that, and He gave me what I needed,” said Pompey. “I feel like a new person, and I am a new person.”
And for the first time in a very long time, she can look forward to Thanksgiving dinner with a smile on her face.
“Seven years since [I was] diagnosed with this and now I'm going to have a normal Thanksgiving. It’s my first normal Thanksgiving in seven years, I'm very happy,” she said. “I'm very excited to have some yams, and I think I'm going to have all types too. I don't care if they’re cut up, smashed, marshmallows or not. Just give me them on a plate. I don't care about the meat or the sides, just give me the yams!”
More than 100,000 men, women, and children are currently waiting for a lifesaving transplant in the U.S. according to the United Network for Organ Sharing. Florida residents can sign up to be an organ donor at https://www.donatelifeflorida.org.
12 items. To interact with these items, press Control-Option-Shift-Right Arrow. These items are in a slider. To advance slider forward, press Shift-Command-Right Arrow. To advance slider backward, press Shift-Command-Left Arrow.
News
Families and caretakers reunite at AdventHealth Littleton’s NICU Reunion
Dozens of families returned to AdventHealth Littleton for the first time since their hospital stay to reconnect with their caregivers for a morning of fun and food.
News
Nasia Collins awarded SonShine Award
Nasia Collins, CPT, a phlebotomist at AdventHealth Gordon in Calhoun, has been honored as the latest recipient of the SonShine Award.
News
Making the Grade: AdventHealth Waterman Earns an “A” for Orthopedic Surgery
Recognized among America’s best in Money’s first national orthopedic surgery rankings
News
‘Like a Miracle’: Minimally invasive TenJet procedure ends woman’s chronic hip pain
For years, Laura O’Brien lived with persistent pain in her hip. It made daily tasks like walking, standing, and sleeping difficult. Relief finally came from an unexpected source: a handheld device the...
News
A dietitian explains how to eat healthy without overspending
A registered dietitian with AdventHealth Diabetes Institute debunks the myths about eating healthy — and how to do it without overspending
News
Strong Legs, Long Life: Dr. Chad Maurer on the Power of Lower Body Strength
When it comes to living longer and maintaining independence, your legs may be more important than you think. According to Dr. Chad Maurer, a primary care physician at AdventHealth Medical Group...
News
AdventHealth Palm Coast earns new recognition for age-friendly care
AdventHealth Palm Coast has earned new national recognition for its care of older adults. Just six months after earning its initial Level 1 designation, the hospital has advanced to a Level 2 Age...
News
AdventHealth Daytona Beach unveils bold vision at first State of the Hospital address
More than 100 local leaders, clinicians and community partners gathered recently for AdventHealth Daytona Beach’s first State of the Hospital address for a look at how the hospital is evolving to meet...
News
UChicago Medicine AdventHealth hospitals nationally recognized for commitment to providing high-quality stroke care
Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines.
News
“It’s Not Normal, But It’s Common”: PA-C Lisa Zwiers on Urinary Leakage in Athletes
Urinary leakage is a challenge many athletes face—often during or after exercise—due to the stress placed on the pelvic floor through strenuous or repetitive movements. Lisa Zwiers, PA-C, with...
News
The Hidden Dangers of Tylenol: Insights from Dr. Mauricio Orrego
Acetaminophen, commonly known by the brand name Tylenol, has been a staple in medicine cabinets since its clinical introduction in 1955.
Video
UChicago Medicine AdventHealth and EMS teams reunite with cardiac survivor
This heartwarming reunion and the success of this case underscore the impact of early symptom recognition, coordinated EMS response, and hospital readiness.