Charolenn Needs a Living Kidney Donor
“It’s difficult to ask someone to donate their other kidney to me, it’s incredibly hard. I don’t normally ask for anything or ask for favors. I’m appreciative for anyone who is even considers being my lifesaving donor.”
Charolenn’s Story
Charolenn’s kidney journey began in 2013, when she endured five years of dialysis before receiving her first transplant in 2018. Within three months, she was diagnosed with diabetes due to steroid use. The initial year post-transplant brought multiple hospital visits, battling infections, low iron, and undergoing biopsies. A devastating turn occurred with acute rejection, overshadowing the joy of her new kidney. Approaching the second-year anniversary, she lost the kidney, and entered a week-long coma before returning to dialysis treatment.
We Need to Find a Living Donor
A year and a half later, facing an infection and low hemoglobin, Charolenn discovered her kidney had necrotized, necessitating a Nephrectomy to prevent sepsis. Post-surgery, she awaited transplant reevaluation, only to learn her antibodies were at 100%, reducing her chances of finding a match. Recognizing the challenges in her kidney history, Charolenn now understands that a living donor represents her best hope for a match and a lifesaving transplant.
Donor Eligibility Requirements
Charolenn is extremely lucky to have secured highly qualified medical help and support from the team at the University of Utah Health (UUH). She wants any interested persons to know that they will be in exceptional hands should they decide to step forward. UUH has shared the following as a pre-qualification list for donation:
Must be between the age of 18-69 years old.
Must be healthy and free of major health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, obesity (BMI of 37 or less).
Must be mentally and emotionally healthy.
You Can Help Save Charolenn's Life!
Interested In Donating?
Complete the short contact form and a GiftWorks' Living Donor Navigator will respond within 1 day to guide you through the next steps in the process.
Have Questions About Donating?
Having questions is normal! Complete the short contact form to set up a time to speak with a GiftWorks' Living Donor Navigator; a guide who knows what it's like to donate a kidney because they've donated in the past.
Want To Help In Other Ways?
You can help by sharing Charolenn's page today! Also, be sure to share Charolenn's posts on social media each week to spread awareness of her story. Sharing posts is one of the best ways to help Charolenn find her lifesaving donor.
Process for Stepping Forward for Charolenn
Fill out the short contact form and a GiftWorks’ Living Donor Navigator will reach out to you within 1 business day to set up a time to connect.
During your time with a GiftWorks’ Living Donor Navigator, you will get to ask questions and receive answers from a living kidney donor. They will tell you more about the process, address non-medical concerns, and connect you to valuable resources.
Breeze is a health questionnaire that will be reviewed by the hospital’s medical team to determine your eligibility for living donation as well as the next steps.
Share To Help
I Still Need to Find My Living Kidney Donor Hero!
As many of you know, I’ve been on a deeply personal journey to find a living kidney donor. Over the past six months, the urgency of this search has intensified, but I remain hopeful and determined for a positive outcome. I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has already come forward to help. Your bravery and kindness, even if we haven’t had the chance to meet in person, genuinely touch my heart and give me strength.
If you’re considering the possibility of becoming a donor or are ready to take the next step in testing, I warmly encourage you to do so. Please begin by filling out the contact form on my website, which you can find linked in the comments below. Your willingness to explore this option could make an immense difference in my life.
Thank you so much for your support, compassion, and kindness during this challenging time. Your encouragement means more to me than words can express.
Please SHARE to Help Charolenn!
Charolenn has fought bravely against kidney disease for over a decade, doing everything possible to slow its progression. Now, she urgently needs a living kidney donor to save her life. Despite her best efforts, her condition has worsened, and a transplant is her only hope. A living donor offers the quickest and best path forward, giving Charolenn a chance to live a healthy life. Please share her story, and if you or someone you know can help, www.giftworksuuh.com/charolenns. Your kindness could be the gift that saves her life and gives hope back to Charolenn, her husband, and her cherished family.
A Vital Request for Your Assistance
It has been over 10 years since I learned that I would need dialysis, and 6 years since I received my first kidney transplant. Now, I’m facing the challenge of kidney failure once again, and the possibility of starting over with a new transplant feels both daunting and uncertain.
While I’m currently on the waitlist for a kidney from a deceased donor, the process can be lengthy and unpredictable due to the high demand and limited availability. I’m reaching out with a heartfelt appeal: if you could share my story, it might help me find a living kidney donor who could make an extraordinary difference in my life.
If you feel moved to consider becoming a donor, please visit my GiftWorks page and complete the contact form here: https://giftworksuuh.com/charolenns.
Your support and compassion during this challenging time would mean so much to me. Thank you.
Questions & Answers
WAS CHAROLENN'S FAMILY TESTED?
Unfortunately, most of the family cannot donate for health reasons. In some cases, the best living donor is one who is not a family member, even when family members do step forward to donate.
DO I NEED INSURANCE TO DONATE?
While the recipient's insurance will provide coverage for the donor, the donor needs to have their own health insurance in the rare event an unknown health issues comes up for the donor.
WHAT ABOUT MY EXPENSES?
While the recipient's insurance covers all costs related to the donation (for Charolenn and her donor), there are expenses like travel, meals, and lost wages that can be incurred. However, we want you to know there are resources available to ensure you do not have to pay for anything out of pocket. The GiftWorks' team can provide more information about those resources if you choose to step forward as a living donor.
HOW LONG IS THE RECOVERY PROCESS?
Living kidney donors are often able to return to work within 2 weeks, and fully heal within 6-8 weeks. After surgery, the donor’s remaining kidney will also grow in size and function, allowing them to live normal life with just one kidney.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS TO DONATE?
The following are pre-qualification requirements for living donation: must be between the age of 18-69 years old, must be healthy and free of major health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity (BMI of 37 or less), and must be mentally and emotionally healthy.
WHAT HAPPENS IF CHAROLENN DOES NOT FIND A DONOR?
The ideal outcome is for Charolenn is to find a living donor. She has already battled so much with her kidney disease that being on the kidney transplant waiting list for 3-5 years is simply not ideal. Long-term dialysis is also not ideal as it can lead to a variety of complications such as low blood pressure, injection site infection, and blood clots.
