That anxiety appeared again recently when Thomas, 56, found she needed a kidney transplant. “There wasn’t a conversation,” Thomas told CNN. After several medical tests, the sisters found they were a match across all markers and were more than 99% identical, according to Cedars-Sinai. Most people who receive a kidney transplant take immunosuppressants for the rest of their life. Between 10-20% of patients undergoing a kidney transplant, even with anti-rejection drugs, will experience at least one rejection, according to the Columbia University Department of Surgery.

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Persons: Karen Rodman, Linda Thomas, Rodman, Thomas, “ We’ve, ” Rodman, ” Thomas, “, ‘, ”, don’t, Irene Kim, Kim, Thomas ’, Linda, Karen, ” Kim, “ I’m Organizations: CNN, “, Sinai Medical Center, National Kidney Foundation, Comprehensive Transplant, Columbia University Department of Surgery Locations: Las Vegas, Cedars, Los Angeles, Sinai, Santa Monica, California