In less than one month, Jordan Laskey will have someone else’s kidney in his body.

And his mother, Jodi, will no longer have two kidneys, because Jordan’s new kidney will be one of her own.

During that time Jeff Laskey, Jordan’s twin brother, will be helping their family get through this time in their lives.

This situation will become reality for the Bowling Green family on Oct. 28, when Jordan is admitted to the Medical College of Ohio for a kidney transplant.

Jordan was born with a renal vein thrombosis, a blood clot in the kidney. The condition has damaged his left kidney, which has been disintegrating since his birth.

“We knew all along he was going to need a kidney transplant one day, because the kidney function — with one kidney — wouldn’t last. As he grows, the worse it gets,” Jodi said.

Jordan and Jeff Laskey, are sophomores at Bowling Green High School. They both play baseball and, according to their mother, will be supporting each other during the surgery.

Just recently, the family found that the time had come for Jordan’s transplant. Jodi said she wanted to be tested to be the potential donor. They were a positive match.

To her, the decision was a no-brainer.

“Why wouldn’t I (be the donor)?” she said as she looked at Jordan. “I mean, I am his mother. It is just something you do.”

Because of the surgery, Jodi will not be able to work for two to three months. This is why her friend and University employee, Geri Dennis, a secretary in the College of Health and Human Services, decided to put a benefit together to help alleviate the family’s financial situation.

“We have been friends for 12 years,” Dennis said. “I had talked to Jodi a long time ago and I said, ‘Whenever you need to do the surgery we will put together a benefit.'”

And Dennis kept her promise.

On Oct. 9 at the Silver Dollar Steak House in the Woodland Mall there will be an event to raise money for the Laskey’s. The event will include a buffet dinner and live music as well as a Texas Hold’em tournament and silent auction.

Tickets for the benefit are $15 and the cost to join the Hold’em tournament is $100.

Jodi said she is overwhelmed with all the support her family has received throughout this ordeal.

“I’m not a townie, I’m not from here,” she said. “And I’ve gotten letters in the mail from people that don’t know us or anything … That is what I want to try to instill in these guys that hey, if someone out there needs help, you do it, no matter what. This town has been absolutely wonderful.”

The road has been a tough one, Jodi said. Jordan had some limitations and often these limitations didn’t apply to his twin brother, which sometimes made it harder.

Jordan has always had headaches and high blood pressure, which kept him from participating in contact sports. He also sees a kidney specialist every three months.

“He was always smaller … he was in the hospital for so long that he had to catch up,” Jodi said. “[The twins] are pretty much the same now, but Jordan was behind — he was behind for a long time.”

Eventually, Jordan will need another transplant for his other kidney, because of the right kidney’s overuse. Another family member will step up for this transplant.

“That is where Jeff comes in down the road, because he can’t do it now,” Jodi said. By law, donors must be 18 years of age.

So for the next month, the Laskey’s will wait for Oct. 28.

Jordan, who doesn’t like to talk about the surgery, said he is more than ready to get it over with.

“He’s been ready,” Jodi said. “I am still a little, you know, a little nervous. It’s both of us and I am not going to be able to see him right away.”

Dennis hopes the benefits will be a success so she can help her friend and her family.

“I really think Jodi has done an excellent job with both of the boys considering the circumstances — Jordan’s health problems and being a single mom,” Dennis said. “She is an excellent mother.”

For more information about the benefit, call Geri Dennis at 352-3230 or Kim Chamberlain at 352-8043.