Meet Rose: The care manager who helps navigate the complexities of transplant surgery
In 2024, the moment Adam feared for years became reality. His teenage daughter, born with a rare genetic disorder, experienced kidney failure and needed a donor.
After undergoing an intense series of tests, Adam discovered that his kidney was a perfect match. But that was only the beginning of a journey that would get more complicated and stressful.
To prepare for the procedure, Adam would need to drop 30 pounds in four months, coordinate same-day procedures at two different hospitals, and research his out-of-pocket expenses.
“It was a new world,” Adam said. “I didn’t know how it would work. I had a ton of questions.”
Luckily, Rose, a nurse care manager at Capital Blue Cross, helped Adam find many of the answers. Rose serves as an educator and resource for Capital members who need kidney, heart, liver, or stem cell transplants.
“Capital made things easy,” Adam said. “It was a highly stressful experience, but Capital was very easy to deal with and very comforting.”
‘Transforming lives’ through education
The cost of a kidney transplant can run into the six figures. As a Capital member, understanding his out-of-pocket costs – for both his procedure and his daughter’s – was one of Adam’s first questions.
Fortunately for Adam, Capital provides important educational resources through its Care Management team to support success before and after a transplant.
“It can be very stressful for patients and their families,” Rose said. “Sometimes they just need support, someone to listen, someone to provide them with those additional resources.”
Rose grew up in a family of nurses and served as a transplant nurse care manager at a hospital in Texas before joining Capital in 2023. Her typical case load at Capital consists of about 40 transplant patients.
She began her career caring for patients after surgery but switched roles after seeing how important education was in the recovery process.
“I gravitated toward transplant patients because you can truly help transform people’s lives,” Rose said. “They’re going through a major surgery. To take care of that organ after the surgery, you need to be well equipped with knowledge. It isn’t just about what kind of medications you need.”
Preparing for a transplant
The wait for a kidney transplant is typically about 30 months. Adam’s daughter needed to have both kidneys removed immediately in the spring of 2024 and rely on dialysis before a kidney transplant.
Because Adam was a match and willing to donate one of his kidneys, his daughter’s wait was shortened to six months.
To prepare for the transplant, doctors told Adam he needed to lose weight. He made minor adjustments to better balance his diet and dropped 30 pounds between July and October of 2024 with the help of a nutritionist.
His surgeon wanted to remove his kidney at Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia, which was more equipped for adult kidney procedures. His daughter’s surgery was at Nemours Children's Hospital in Wilmington, Del. – about 30 miles south.
Adam’s kidney was removed during an early morning procedure on Nov. 19, 2024, and transferred to Nemours, where it was transplanted into his daughter just hours later.
Life after transplant
Rose said one of the most important conversations she has with transplant patients involves lifestyle changes needed to successfully return to public settings.
To aid with recovery, transplant patients take medication that weakens their immune systems. Learning precautions helps them avoid infections.
“They need to be more mindful of what they touch while they’re in public,” Rose said. “Maybe they wear a mask or wash their hands more frequently. It is definitely a lifestyle change, but an important one.”
Adam said he is grateful for the care his family received – including Capital’s support – to help guide them to this point.
“Any question I had, Capital always had an answer for it,” Adam said. “It took a lot of pressure off us.”
Connect with Capital Blue Cross
Capital Blue Cross employs nurses, care managers, dietitians, and other healthcare professionals who can provide personalized support for members to make healthy lifestyle changes and improve the quality of their lives. Call 888.545.4512 to talk to a care manager or learn about one of our virtual programs.
This is not medical advice and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment. The information provided is meant for a general audience. Capital Blue Cross and its affiliated companies believe this health education resource provides useful information but does not assume any liability associated with its use.