We hope Susan's story will help spread awareness about Kidney Health and how you can help. Providing flexibility and benefits as an employer, donating money to support the foundation, to acting as a humanitarian donor to save someone's life.

Susan Mathews has battled with Kidney health throughout her entire life. When her husband, Jerry, joined the Underground Magnetics team a few years ago, he brought his wife's story with him. We are grateful for the National Kidney Foundation, the humanitarian donor, and the medical teams that kept one of our own safe and healthy throughout the entire process.

In recognition of National Kidney Month and National Organ Donor Month we have customized our HDD Locating System in a beautiful metallic green. Underground Magnetics will be offering these units at the standard price for our customers but for every green system sold, we will be donating $500 to the National Kidney Foundation. In addition, we will match each donation made through our fundraiser. (Up to $500 per donation)

My name is Susan Mathews and I have lived with kidney issues my entire life. As a child I had chronic kidney infections followed by surgery when I was 8 years to help remedy the issue.  Little did I know that years later, about 14 years ago, I would be told I had stage 3 chronic kidney disease.  At that time my doctor told me that in about 10 years, I would need to go on dialysis and would need a kidney transplant.

Well, 10 years later that is exactly what occurred. I started dialysis in December of 2020 and started the evaluation process for transplant. While I was waiting for a kidney donor,  I was doing peritoneal dialysis at home. In fall of 2022, I lost my job due to a layoff. My husband was fortunate enough to obtain employment with Underground Magnetics (UMAG) that gave us much needed health benefits as well as a source of income while I looked for new employment. They have been incredibly supportive. 

2023 was tumultuous year for my health. I had to switch to in center hemodialysis for a period of 3 months and due to how it made me feel after treatment, I was unable to drive myself. This required my husband to spend several hours away from work driving me. This was in addition to all the other doctors’ appointments and tests.

I am very happy to say that in the fall of 2023 I received a kidney from a humanitarian donor. This is a live donor that just steps up and says I want to donate, and I don't care who gets it. This took my husband away from work again while I was in the hospital.  About 3 weeks after surgery, I had complications.  Another week in the hospital and many more appointments and tests to follow for another 2 months. Underground Magnetics allowed him the time necessary to be my caregiver and for their compassion and understanding both my husband and I will be eternally grateful.

Through my entire kidney journey, The National Kidney Foundation was a major source of information and education for not just me, but for my entire family. From what to expect to what foods are best to help extend the life of the kidneys. They are dedicated to helping patients and families understand the process, from diagnosis through transplant, but they also do research to help progress treatments. 

I am so proud that Underground Magnetics is partnering with the National Kidney Foundation during National kidney month to help raise funds for this very worthy cause.  The National Kidney Foundation website states that 1 in 3 Americans are at risk of kidney disease, 37 million people have chronic kidney disease, 660,000 live with kidney failure, and 100,000 are waiting for transplant. It is increasing at an alarming rate. Your donation could help you or someone you love as much as it helped me and the ones I love.