One of the most powerful things I’ve come to understand on this journey is that living kidney donation changes two lives — not just the recipient’s. Yes, I would receive the ultimate gift — the chance to get off dialysis, regain my strength, and spend more time with my wife, kids, and grandkids. But the donor receives something incredibly meaningful, too: a deep sense of purpose.
In the U.S., there are currently over 100,000 people waiting for a life-saving kidney transplant. The waitlist is long, and it can take years before a deceased donor kidney becomes available. Unfortunately, many people on the list become sicker as time goes on, making the wait even harder.
I’m still waiting for a living kidney donor — someone who can give me a second chance at life. Living donation isn’t just about saving a life. It gives something even deeper: hope, freedom, and time.
In the U.S., there are currently over 100,000 people waiting for a life-saving kidney transplant. The waitlist is long, and it can take years before a deceased donor kidney becomes available. Unfortunately, many people on the list, like Steve, become sicker as time goes on, making the wait even harder.
In the U.S., there are currently over 100,000 people waiting for a life-saving kidney transplant. The waitlist is long, and it can take years before a deceased donor kidney becomes available. Unfortunately, many people on the list become sicker as time goes on, making the wait even harder.
Living with kidney disease isn’t just a physical battle—it’s emotional, mental, and deeply personal. I was only 16 when I was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease. Since then, my life has been a cycle of dialysis, transplants, and trying to hold onto hope. I’ve had two kidney transplants, and after both failed, I was placed back on dialysis—where I still am today, three times a week.
Living with polycystic kidney disease has been an incredibly tough journey, not just physically, but emotionally and mentally. Over the years, I’ve had to be resilient in ways I never thought I’d need to be. Kidney disease doesn’t just affect the body; it takes a toll on every part of your life. I’ve missed out on so much—time with my family, the ability to be as active as I once was, and even the energy to focus fully at work. I’m grateful for the job I still have, but the constant fatigue and daily dialysis treatments remind me of how much I’ve had to adapt to.
In the U.S., there are currently over 100,000 people waiting for a life-saving kidney transplant. The waitlist is long, and it can take years before a deceased donor kidney becomes available. Unfortunately, many people on that list grow sicker with each passing day—and that’s what makes the wait so heartbreaking.
In the U.S., there are currently over 100,000 people waiting for a life-saving kidney transplant. The waitlist is long, and it can take years before a deceased donor kidney becomes available. Unfortunately, many people on the list, like Eric, become sicker as time goes on, making the wait even harder.
When I received a kidney from my mom back in 1998, it changed everything. That one selfless act gave me nearly 25 beautiful years of health, energy, and life. Now that her kidney is failing and I’m back on dialysis, I’m reminded every day how precious that gift truly was—and how powerful living donation can be.
