On July 1, Melissa Ostermeyer will donate a kidney to her son, Jacob, who suffers from membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis Type I, or MPGN, which is a kidney disease.

“The disease continually is processed through the kidneys,” Melissa Ostermeyer explained. “Eventually the kidneys deteriorate until they no longer function, which is where we’re at now.”

Surgery is planned for July 1 at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo.

Ostermeyer called the days leading up to the surgery as “hectic,” as there are several last-minute preparations to be made. In addition, several blood tests will be administered during the 24 hours leading to surgery July 1 to ensure “neither one of us has anything,” such as flu bugs or infections.

Ostermeyer said she likely would be released from the hospital a day or two after surgery, while Jacob will remain an estimated two weeks in the hospital.

“He will have four weeks where he can’t really be around a large group of people,” Ostermeyer said. “Individual friends and family can see him as long as they’re not sick.”

She said Jacob has been stoic when it comes to preparations for the transplant.

“He’s really been kind of quiet about it,” she said. “He doesn’t show a lot of feelings yet. I think he’s kind of ready to get it over with.”

Ostermeyer mentioned acquiring a “tremendous bruise” after blood was taken on one particular occasion.

“I don’t even want to hear you whine,” Melissa said, recalling what her son said to her when they discussed the bruise. “I said, ‘You’ve got a point there, son.’

“He’s really in pretty good spirits. It’s been almost seven years since he got sick.”

Ostermeyer said a Web page at carepages.com has been set up for people to check in on how Jacob is doing. Once on the page, type in “jakeostermeyer.”