Mississippi Mom’s Urgent Search for Kidney Donor to Save 5-Year-Old Daughter
Shannon Randleston, a 38-year-old mother from Vicksburg, Mississippi, is in a desperate search for a kidney donor to save her five-year-old daughter, A’Rihanna Ames, whose worsening kidney disease has reached Stage 5 Renal Failure.
“It’s not easy to hear that your five-year-old has to go through this,” Randleston told WLBT. “It’s hard. It’s heartbreaking.”
A’Rihanna was born with Stage 4 Chronic Kidney Disease, and despite her resilience, her condition has steadily declined. Her journey has already been marked by tragedy—her twin sister passed away shortly after birth. Now, her family faces an urgent challenge: finding a compatible donor.
Randleston has encountered many setbacks in her search.
“People will come forward, say they will donate a kidney, and then when you reach back out to them, they block you or don’t answer the phone,” she shared.
Despite the uncertainty, A’Rihanna remains a joyful kindergartner who loves playing outside, watching Peppa Pig, and spending time with her three older siblings and grandmother. She receives treatment at the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Eli Manning Children’s Clinic, but without a transplant, her condition will continue to worsen.
A’Rihanna’s parents, Randleston and Tommy Ames Jr., are doing everything they can to spread the word and a GoFundMe has been set up to help the family during this very difficult time.
A’Rihanna’s Story
On the GoFundMe page A’Rihann’s story is one of sadness and a lot of hope, read her story below:
My Unique Story
Hello, my name is A’Rihanna Janae Ames. I am a 5-year-old kindergartener and a twinless twin. My beautiful twin sister, Rihanna Ames, gained her wings at birth. We were both premature; as a result, I was diagnosed with CKD (Chronic Kidney Failure). My mother is Shannon Randleston, and my father is Tommy Ames Jr. I come to my family, friends, and any donors willing to donate me a kidney. Donors must be 18-73 years of age with O positive blood type. I will be doing dialysis every night. This will help my kidneys do their job and keep me alive, but a transplant would offer me more freedom and the ability to live a longer, healthier, and more normal life. I enjoy singing, playing with my toys, and spending time with my family and friends. Receiving a transplant will give me more time to do the things I love. However, finding a kidney transplant is not easy. Just ask the 100,000+ people on the waiting list for a deceased donor kidney just like me. Time is not on our side. Some wait for years; many die waiting. The average wait time is 5 years for a kidney from a deceased donor. There is another option: receiving a kidney from a living donor. Asking a family member or friend can be difficult but greatly improves my chances of getting a transplant. A living kidney donation typically lasts longer and has better function. You might not know a lot about living donation, understanding some people are afraid about the surgery and what living with one kidney will mean for them. Here’s some basic information about kidney donation:
• You only need one kidney to live a long, healthy life.
• Most donor surgery is done laparoscopically, meaning through tiny incisions.
• The recuperation period is usually quick, generally two weeks.
• The cost of your evaluation and my surgery is covered by my insurance. The hospital can give you extensive information on this.
• You will have a team of healthcare professionals to evaluate you as a living donor. Their job is to help you understand the risks and benefits and look out for YOUR best interests.
You can also learn more about living donation on the National Kidney Foundation website: www.kidney.org/livingdonation or by contacting the NKF’s free, confidential helpline at 855.NKF.CARES (855-653-2273) or [email redacted]. If you want to talk to someone who’s already donated a kidney, NKF can also help.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. If donating a kidney to me is something you would like to consider, I would be happy to tell you more about my story and explore the process of determining if you are a match for me. You can also contact my transplant center or reach out to my mom or dad.
May God bless each of you, and thank you for your love and support during this time!
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