Los Altos Woman Inspires HP To Aid Kidney Foundation

When Melinda Cook stepped off on the National Kidney Foundation Walk in downtown San Jose Saturday morning, she did so knowing she has inspired an entire company to commit to help fighting a disease that affects one in nine people, yet few know about.

Cook and her team, and her colleagues' teams walked. HP CEO Meg Whitman will walk Sunday. HP board member Anne Livermore, who is a kidney transplant recipient, will also walk, and in doing so together across HP, raise an estimaed $60,00.

But it's not just the money said Cook. It's the awareness.

 More than 26 million Americans - 1 in 9 adults – have chronic kidney disease and most don’t know it. A blood test to check kidney function is all that it would take.

In her 20s, Cook was diagnosed with polycycstic kidney disease. Like many others with PKD, it was only a matter of time until cysts expanded on her kidneys, destroying their ability to filter toxins and maintain other life-sustaining functions. 

Doctors told her she should start considering transplantation. 

“They told me it would take three to four years on the wait list to find a donor, so they encouraged me to look for someone who would be willing to donate,” she said.

Cook sent out letters to old friends and classmates. Steven Maupin, the husband of her college classmate, stepped forward to donate. 

After six months on dialysis, Cook received a life-saving kidney from Maupin.

While Cook immediately started feeling better with the new kidney, the donation also had a profound impact on Maupin – he would go on to become the chairman of the board for the National Kidney Foundation. 

"I can never adequately thank him," she said. "I've been so inspired by him...so trying to get a big corporate company to support this, was something I could do to support him."

Cook, an employee at Hewlett Packard, also had a pivotal role in bringing the Silicon Valley powerhouse into the fold to fight kidney disease. 

She contacted HP CEO Meg Whitman, encouraging the Whitman and the company to get behind the cause of kidney disease.

"I sent an email to Meg with "Making it matter" as the subject line, Cook said. It is the tag line and motivator for nearly every endeavor the company does nowadays.

"Meg has really tried to bring back the old HP," Cook said. "I've worked there for 20 years, and it's great to see how she's tried to bring back that community spirit."
 
Cook’s story inspired Whitman, and board member, Ann Livermore, to sign on as co-chairs of the Silicon Valley and San Francisco Kidney Walks. 

Livermore also happens to be a kidney transplant recipient. 

“Through this all, I continue to be surprised by the amount of people who have personal experiences with kidney disease,” Cook said. “But not a lot of people talk about it —that’s one reason why it’s known as a silent killer.” 

 Walkers participate as individuals or form teams with family, friends or colleagues. 

Those interested in getting involved or supporting a walker can visit www.kidneywalk.org. 

For Cook, the Walk is a chance to shine a spotlight on a silent disease, and to highlight the good it can bring -- from company-wide support, to organ donation.

“I get very emotional about it, organ donation has made the difference in my life,” she said. “If you really want to do good, consider being a donor. It will make a huge difference.”