Amanda Needs a Living Kidney Donor
“I look forward to being able to travel and do things with my son again. He is the reason for everything.”
Amanda’s Story
Hi, my name is Amanda, and I want to share my story with you. I am living with kidney disease. My health makes it hard to keep up with my 7-year-old son. I can’t run or play with him like I used to because I get tired or run out of breath. Even simple family outings are tough if there’s too much walking involved. My days are carefully planned around my treatments and my full-time job, and my son has had to adjust to these changes too. It’s been hard on both of us, but he’s my reason for everything, and I dream of giving him the fun, active mom he deserves.
Getting a transplant would mean so much—it’s a chance to travel, play, and just enjoy life with my son again. I can’t do this alone, though. Living donation is the fastest way to make this happen. If you’ve ever thought about helping someone in this way, please consider donating or even sharing my story. I promise to take the best care of this gift. It’s not just about me—it would change my family’s life too. Thank you for reading and for being part of my journey.
Donor Eligibility Requirements
Amanda 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 Amanda'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 Amanda's page today! Also, be sure to share Amanda's posts on social media each week to spread awareness of her story. Sharing posts is one of the best ways to help Amanda find her lifesaving donor.
SHARE NOW!
Process for Stepping Forward for Amanda
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
Doing All That I Can for Amanda
It’s never easy to ask for help, especially when the request is so deeply personal. Amanda has been battling kidney disease since 2021, facing the daily challenges of this illness and all that it brings—fatigue, uncertainty, and the weight of a future that depends on finding a living kidney donor. Currently, Amanda is one of over 100,000 people in the U.S. waiting for a lifesaving kidney transplant. It can take years to find a match, and while she waits, my worry is that her health will only continue to decline. But despite all the hurdles she’s faced, the one thing that remains unwavering is her hope for a better future. I’m hopeful, too.
Dialysis is Not a Better Option
There’s a myth out there that dialysis is better than a kidney transplant, but I want to share why that’s simply not true. Dialysis can keep me alive, but it doesn’t give me the freedom and quality of life I need. I’m on peritoneal dialysis, and while it’s helping my body function, it’s exhausting, limiting, and disruptive. I have to plan my entire day around it.
A Transplant Will Change My Life Forever
My life has become a constant cycle of limitations, and it’s hard to ask for help. But a kidney transplant would change everything. It would allow me to be the mom my son needs, to live without the constant exhaustion, and to have the freedom to enjoy life again.
Questions & Answers
WAS THE FAMILY TESTED TO DONATE?
Although the family is deeply committed to supporting their loved one, they are unable to donate at this time due to various eligibility factors. Many people are surprised to learn that a family member isn’t always the best match. In fact, some of the most successful transplants come from living donors who aren’t related to the recipient. This means anyone with the willingness and ability to donate could be the lifesaving match they’ve been waiting for.
DO I NEED INSURANCE TO DONATE?
While the recipient's insurance will provide coverage for the donor's testing and surgery, the donor needs to have their own health insurance in the rare event any unknown health issues come up for the 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 ABOUT MY EXPENSES?
While the recipient's insurance covers all costs related to the donation (for recipient and the donor), there are expenses that are related to the actual surgery for the transplant, like travel, meals, and lost wages that you may be reimbursed for. There are financial resources available to ensure you are not paying for anything out of pocket. GiftWorks can provide more information on those resources, if interested.
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 A DONOR IS NOT FOUND?
The ideal outcome for kidney patients is to find a living donor. Patients have already battled so much with their kidney disease that being on the kidney transplant waiting list for 3-5 years is simply not ideal. Long-term dialysis is not ideal as it can lead to a variety of complications such as low blood pressure (which causes dizziness), blood clots, cardiovascular disease, and serious infection.
