Second-grade teachers have much in common -- including a kidney

Published: 2004-02-06

MARSHFIELD, Wis. (CNS) -- Tami Schlagenhaft and Sue Steffek are a perfect match. Friends and co-workers for 18 years, they both teach second grade at St. John the Baptist Primary School in Marshfield. They live on the same block. They attended Viterbo University in La Crosse. They are members of Our Lady of Peace Parish, Marshfield. They both are married and have two children. But the bond between them has been even stronger since Jan. 8, when one of Schlagenhaft's kidneys was transplanted into Steffek. Diagnosed approximately 20 years ago with the kidney disease IgA Nephrothapy, also known as Berger's disease, Steffek knew that she eventually would have to have a kidney transplant. In the meantime, she used dialysis, the usual therapy for those suffering from kidney maladies. While there wasn't much physical discomfort, Steffek said the dialysis machine waiting for her at home at the end of every day was one cumbersome element of her life she could do without.

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