For some time, Melodie Henderson-Magouirk knew the day would come that she would lose a part of herself forever. When that day came, she never thought twice.

She donated one of her kidneys to her best friend Jennifer Jacobson, whom she met when the two were undergrads at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 1994.

“We were both theater majors in a small department, and we did several shows together, becoming best friends in the process,” Melodie said. “When we graduated with our BA in acting/directing in 1997, we didn’t know what to do next. We decided to both apply to one graduate school, and decided if we didn’t both get in, we wouldn’t go anywhere. Cal State Fullerton accepted both of us, and we packed what we could fit in our cars, and I followed Jennifer all the way out here. She’s always been the leader – I have a terrible sense of direction.” ’3 ON THE EDGE’

What: Chino Community Theatre’s Weekender Seriesfeaturing three cutting-edge plays:

Parallel Lives. All-female sketch comedy. Some adult language.

When: Saturday and June 17

At Home at the Zoo. two strangers cross paths and meet their cruel fate on a bench in Central Park. Recommended for mature audiences only; contains explicit sexual dialogue and content.

When: June 12 and 18

Closer. the struggle between a quartet of strangers to find intimacy in 1990s London. Recommended for mature audiences, due to explicit sexual dialogue and content.

When: Today and June 16 and 19.

Where: Seventh Street Theatre, 13123 Seventh St., Chino

Cost: $15 adults, $12 students and seniors age 55 and older

Information: 909-590-1149, chinocommunitytheatre.org in 2002, following the birth of her daughter Madilynn, Jennifer was diagnosed with Familial Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis, FSGS, a disorder in the blood-filtering parts of the kidney.

“It is a scary thought,” said Jennifer, thinking back to when she first heard she would eventually need a transplant. “I was so sick at the time that I would be grateful to anything that would make me feel better. I tried everything before a transplant. I did chemotherapy for years, plasma exchange through a central port in my neck, etc. in five years my kidneys were just gone but I kept on. I still worked and went on with my life because I wasn’t going to let it define me.”

On April 10, 2008, Jennifer received a new kidney donated by her best friend.

Now, three years later, in a twist of irony worthy of the theater, Melodie’s kidneys will appear together on the same stage as both women perform roles in Chino Community Theatre’s “Parallel Lives,” part of the group’s “3 on the Edge” Weekender Series at Chino’s Seventh Street Theatre through June 17.

“Theater was what brought us together, but we haven’t been on stage together in about 10 years,” Jennifer said.

“Parallel Lives” is a sketch comedy. a cast of five women plays 18 parts in several vignettes about women’s issues. Other cast members include Chino residents Gracie Arvizu, Cindi B. East and Michelle Knight Rhinehardt.

When the need for transplant surgery became apparent, it turned out that Melodie was more than a best friend to Jennifer. she also was a perfect match, as far as being a donor.

“I told her I would give her a kidney when the time came,” Melodie said. “I just knew I would be a match.”

In 2006, Jennifer’s symptoms increased as her energy level faltered.

“She was tired all the time, had bad headaches frequently, and just didn’t feel good,” Melodie said.

When Jennifer’s kidney function dropped below 20 percent, the doctors said it was time for the transplant.

Melodie was the first one tested. Doctors mixed hers and Jennifer’s blood together for an idea of tissue compatibility.

“Ours were so closely matched, they said we could have been sisters,” Melodie said.

Melodie spent the next five months going through medical testing and psychological evaluation.

“If I failed one of the tests, they wouldn’t accept me as a donor,” she said. “That was tough for both of us, and our families. my husband and I had three children at the time, Julianna, who was 9, and Tate and Tucker, who were 4. Finally, I got the green light. a couple of weeks later, we met with our surgery teams and they told us they would call when they had a date for us.”

Surgery was set for April 10, 2008.

The transplant was an immediate success, and both recovered quickly. Jennifer’s anti-rejection medications quickly were reduced because of the closeness of the match.

“I will always feel grateful and believe that I have never done enough to pay it back. You just can’t pay back the gift of life,” Jennifer said. “I felt guilty that someone I loved so much had to do something like that for me. I still feel guilty. I knew there were things she wanted to do with her life, like have another baby, and I didn’t want to be the cause of her not fulfilling her dreams. it is such a huge gift that it takes you on a roller coaster. Grateful and guilty, that is what you feel. I swore that I would live my life to the fullest and do my best everyday. it gives me motivation to be as healthy as I can.”

Jennifer needn’t have worried about Melodie not fulfilling her dream of another child. Though possibly waiting a little longer then planned, last fall the Henderson-Magouirks welcomed daughter Aislan.

All’s well with the Jacobson family, too. “I can get up everyday and live my life,” Jennifer said. “I get to play with my husband and daughter. I can spend wonderful moments with my family and my friends and not have to worry about being so sick. it is a new chance of life; the most precious gift ever. it is like a redo. the best redo ever. Melodie and I have been best friends for 17 years. We have both changed and our focuses are different, but inside we are the same two kids that wore cut-off shorts under our college graduation gowns. I love her not because she gave me a kidney but because she is my sister. We have lived more at the age of 30-something than most people ever get to live. the giving of the kidney was just a stop in our journey. a great stop.”

diana.sholley@inlandnewspapers.com, 909-483-9381

Ok my Best friend which you can just say hes my brother cuz thats how close we are.. has VLS its something like Viral Lung symptoms.. I cant remember.. He said hes dying… he said its pretty much like lung cancer. he also said that if he keeps on smoking or has junk food or caffeine he could die.. If u could give me any information… id b happy…im realli worried about him.. i need to know stuff about VLS

i think it might be vascular… he had fluids in his lungs.. his throat swells up sometimes…. and sometimes he cant breathe

I want to know if medical marijuana helps with the symptoms of Crohn's Disease such as intestinal pain due to obsturction, bloating, flagulence, and etc. I also would like to know if it helps with physical symptoms like arthritis pains and scoliosis.

My best friend has crohns and marijuana help her pain,Medical marijuana has been good for all types of pain including cancer.she tried everything and marijuana help her,its safe has no side effects after all its a natural herb with alot medical uses,It is safer for arthriris than Nacortics and it is not addictive

If you haven't already, you should read the "Maker's diet"! It talks alot about crohn's diease and how to cure it with hso probiotics and diet. This guy tried everything because he had the worst case of Chrohn's disease out there. he was able to become completly cured.

good luck

"A young Jewish man, Jordan Rubin, who almost died from Crohn’s disease, has written a book, “The Maker’s Diet,” which describes a diet that comes directly from the Bible. It is contrary to what he would be allowed to follow if Universal Health Care is enacted. he plunged from 180 pounds to 100 pounds during his battle.
The diet which he discovered in the Bible is very low in carbohydrate and high in fat and protein. The medical profession is unanimous in saying that Rubin’s diet is a disaster for the health of anyone. But that diet saved Rubin from death ten years ago. he had consulted seventy (70) medical experts who failed to help him in his desperate attempt to stay alive.
His book has become a rage across the country, with many food stores, including Bread and Circus in Massachusetts, now part of the nationwide whole Foods chain, selling his book and the foods that he recommends."

I have crohn's and even though medical marijuana is not legal in my state, I can assure you. It does help the pain.

Chocolate is probably the most well known. But grapes are just as dangerous. Angela Poates sat down with me to talk about the nightmare she went through with her dog, Rio.

You don't often see Poates without Rio by her side. It's safe to say, the husky-border collie mix is her best friend.

“I've always been like if I've got Rio I'm good,” said Poates.

So when a sudden illness hit Rio back in October, it was a devastating blow to Angela. she helplessly watched as her energetic, playful dog started slipping away.

“The people at the vet were like, we love him. He's so sweet. He's so quiet, that's not Rio,” said Poates.

The culprit, something you may not expect.

“I heard grapes were bad for dogs but I've also heard chocolate is bad for dogs, and I've known a ton of dogs that have eaten chocolate; maybe an upset stomach and they're fine,” said Poates.Rio went counter surfing and snacked on the seemingly harmless fruit drying in her kitchen sink. 

“They were sitting exactly right here, he ate probably number wise, 20,” said Poates.

Angela says Rio first had an upset stomach, the next day he wouldn't eat. she took him to the Veterinary Emergency Center in Carytown.

“Right then as soon as they took the blood work they found out he was in acute kidney failure,” said Poates.

Dr. Nathan Lippo, didn't treat Rio, but said any amount of grapes can be toxic to a dog.

“The toxin in the fruit is unknown but we do know it's in the flesh of the grape not the seeds, not the skin. It's a water soluble toxin so it effects them pretty badly,” said Dr. Lippo.Dr. Lippo said there have been a number of cases reported since it was first documented in 1999.

Chocolate tops the list for toxicity in dogs said Dr. Lippo, followed by grapes and raisins, onions, garlic and macademia nuts. Damage to a dog can vary with each food.

Dr. Lippo said while chocolate can cause cardiac problems. Grapes and raisins can lead to kidney failure.

“In onions and garlic, it's called a super-radical so it destroys red blood cells and for macademia nuts we don't know what the toxin is in that,” said Dr. Lippo.

You won't notice your dog is sick the moment it eats toxic foods.

“Unfortunately it takes about 12 to 24 hours for signs to appear but at that point the damage is already done,” said Dr. Lippo.

If your dog receives treatment right away, Dr. Lippo said the prognosis is good. Symptoms include acting lethargic, not eating and vomiting. Flushing the system and soaking up the toxin begins the recovery process.

It was touch and go for Rio. 

“Say our prayers, good boy,” said Poates to Rio.

He spent six nights at the emergency vet. When Angela couldn't afford the 24 hour vet care anymore, she started treating Rio at home. four months later, Rio is how Rio should be, for the most part. He's not 100%.

“They think there's probably permanent kidney damage,” said Poates.

While treatment was a huge expense, to Angela, the cost didn't matter. Angela spent more than $5,000 on vet visits.

She's had to change Rio's diet to accommodate for the kidney damage. Dr. Lippo said the majority of people food is safe for dogs, including green beans and carrots, but such treats should be given in moderation.

If you think your dog has eaten a toxic food, take it to the vet as soon as possible. 

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