NEW IBERIA, La. (KLFY) – A Kidney for Kayla: an Iberia Parish woman is fighting for her life as she’s placed back on the kidney transplant list for the second time. 

 Kayla Ronsonet, 43, is in need of a second kidney transplant. Doctors first diagnosed her with kidney disease in 2004. She recieved a kidney transplant in 2009.  However, it wasn’t long after for her new kidney to fail.

“I blamed myself. I felt like I had done something wrong. It’s really just my body that attacks my kidneys,” Ronsonet said.

Over the years, Kayla has had six surgeries. She’s currently undergoing dialysis and is on twelve medications, all while working at the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Department.

“I have a catheter in my abdomen and I just hook myself to the machine and the machine does all the work at night while I sleep. I have to be connected to it for eight hours,” Ronsonet said.

Because of Kayla’s rare blood type and high antibody level, doctors expect her to have to wait five to seven years for a deceased donor. 

“I wasn’t even an organ donor. I hadn’t even registered to be an organ donor until I met her. I was still under the notion that, that’s mine. Until you meet somebody, (you realize) it can be life changing,” said Heidi Romero, Kayla’s friend and coworker.

According to Kayla, 40 people she knows have tested so far. No one has matched. Her family and friends are now raising awareness to the community with fundraisers and even Mardi Gras floats.

“She’s like one of the hardest working people that I know. I’ve seen her come in and I wouldn’t even get out of my bed if that was me. She’s very dedicated and probably the best mother I know,” Romero said.

“It’s definitely difficult but I have a lot of people behind me, a lot of people who support me, great family and friends,” Ronsonet said.

Kayla has B- blood type. Doctors can still test incompatible blood types through a process called paired kidney donation.

For more information on the cause, visit A Kidney for Kayla Facebook page.