In sickness and in health

Published April 9, 2015
By Senior Airman Stephanie Morris
Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- One old adage of marriage is the vow to be there for each other, for better or for worse in sickness and in health. For many couples, this is a line they recite at their ceremony and store in the back of their minds for many years. However, for one couple, that vow was tested only a couple years after they made it.

Essence Minter was diagnosed at age 18 with polycystic kidney disease while serving in the United States Navy. Both her mother and grandmother also had the disease, but they carried mutation one -- Essence was host to mutation two.

This meant she was at a higher risk of needing a kidney transplant in the future and may even need to be placed on dialysis one day.

Essence's husband, Airman 1st Class Karlton Minter, 5th Medical Operations Squadron emergency medical technician, didn't let this news keep him from meeting her at the end of the aisle.

"I knew about the disease when I met her," Karlton said. "I wasn't afraid of it."

So Karlton and Essence exchanged vows one year after he left for basic training.

Upon graduating from Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, Karlton and Essence found themselves at his first duty station -- Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota.

Unfortunately, it wasn't long after they arrived before they received devastating news. Essence's kidney function was barely above 20 percent, and she had no alternative but to get a transplant.

"The kidney center at Sanford will only do a transplant if the kidney is below 20 percent function," Essence explained while exchanging a pained look with her husband.
Because of this, the two would have to wait, and Karlton was forced to stand by as his wife's health waned.

"As a husband and a man, I felt it was my duty to take care of her," Karlton said. "I was just focused on my wife and on finding a way to help her."

He began speaking to his leadership and the staff at Sanford, trying to find a way to replace his wife's ailing kidneys with one of his own.

Karlton was able to garner advice on donating his kidney to his wife from a co-worker who had recently gone through a similar situation with their mother.

Gaining permission from his leadership and the Air Force was only the first of many hurdles Karlton would face.

The staff at Sanford conducted blood work, echocardiograms and a battery of other tests on Karlton, all of which finally culminated in an extensive interview.

"They must have asked me 500 questions on that survey," Karlton remarked, sharing a laugh with his wife. "They had to make sure I wasn't being pressured to donate my kidney and I was there of my own free will."

With a blood type of O positive, and test results that showed compatibility, Karlton was finally given the green light to go under the knife to save the love of his life.

"I knew the surgery was going to be successful," Karlton said. "It was something I felt in my body, in my bones. I felt spiritually that we met for a reason and this was it."

Many hours later, Essence and Karlton awoke from the first surgery either had ever undergone surrounded by hospital staff and family members. The procedure was a success.

The intervention of her husband saved Essence from the pains of dialysis and the possibility of spending years on a waiting list for a kidney that may have never come.

"I lost a friend the day before my surgery that had been on a waiting list for years," Essence said. "Having my husband right there to help me was truly a blessing and because of him I will never see a dialysis machine; I have my life back."

Though Essence has braved the trial of replacement surgery and emerged victorious, her battle against her disease will carry on.

Despite this, she remains deeply grateful to those who helped her through her darkest hour and optimistic about the future. She and Karlton have already begun anticipating the day when they will be able to welcome a new baby Minter into the world.

Essence said the biggest advice she could give to someone in her situation is for them to avoid feeling guilty about their sickness. For her, the most important thing is to stay positive and to honor the family member or donor of the kidney by taking your medications on time along with diet and exercise.

"I'm so grateful for the Sanford Transplant team and everything they did for me," Essence said. "Thanks to Sue and Jessica; I also wish to thank Tom Melvin, Tiffany Zurcher and the entire 5th Medical Group for their support and aide during this time. Most of all I am thankful for my wonderful husband and that he was brave enough to risk his life for me."