Vada Conant, who has devoted her life to service, leads the historic American Legion Vandiver-Moylan Post 355 in Bala Cynwyd, thanks to life-saving kidney transplant, according to a staff report from 6abc.
Previously serving in the Air Force, the Army, and nursing, the retired military veteran developed high blood pressure at 22, which was difficult to control on remote deployments.
“I had meds, but no one monitored my blood pressure,” she said. “I’d complain of being dizzy, and they’d be like – ‘It’s 98 degrees, you’ll be fine. Drink some water.’”
The high blood pressure damaged her kidneys, and when she retired from the military in the 1990s, her doctors never informed her of the damage. By 2018, she needed dialysis and was listed for a transplant.
While waiting, Conant kept working on her masters degree, but her community life was affected.
“My attendance at synagogue was affected,” she said. “My attendance for Gift of Life presentations, my attendance at Legion.”
Last year, she finally received the long-awaited phone call.
“August 31st at 6:30, Labor Day weekend, and my transplant was at midnight,” she said.
A year later, she continues raising donor awareness.
Read more about the transplant that saved Vada Conant’s life at 6abc.
