Most Donors Recover Quickly
One of the most common myths I hear is that it takes months to recover from living kidney donation. I […]
Still Looking for My Lifesaving Donor
I was diagnosed with kidney disease in 1986. In 2022, I started dialysis, and while it keeps me alive, it’s exhausting. I’ve been actively hoping for a living donor because it offers the best chance for a longer, healthier life. But finding someone who is both willing and medically able is incredibly hard. Even when people step forward, many are disqualified during testing due to health concerns or incompatibility. It’s a process that takes time, patience, and hope.
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.
Hope Keeps Me Going Every Day
The idea of receiving a kidney from a living donor fills me with hope, not just for myself, but for everyone who is struggling with kidney disease. It represents the incredible generosity and compassion of another person who is willing to give the gift of life. This transplant could give me back the energy and health I’ve lost, and allow me to continue being there for my family and loved ones.
Generosity Is a Powerful Word
#generosity is a word that truly resonates with me as I reflect on the kindness and selflessness of those who choose to donate a kidney. A transplant isn’t just about receiving an organ, it’s about receiving the gift of life. The generosity of living donors is beyond measure, as they don’t just give an organ, they give someone the opportunity to live a fuller, healthier life.
Hope for Ken
Ken is a wonderful person who has faced countless challenges with unwavering strength and a positive attitude. Diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) at the age of 34, Ken has worked hard to manage his health, despite the daily toll the disease takes on his energy and well-being. He is typically exhausted, battling nausea, low energy, and swelling, which makes even the simplest tasks, like helping his wife Cheryl with chores, more difficult. Despite these struggles, Ken remains optimistic about the future.
Hope for Kathie
Kathie is a resilient, caring person who has spent her life giving to others, from decades of teaching children to supporting her family through some incredibly tough times. Kathie’s health has faced many challenges, and in 2023, she was officially placed on the kidney transplant list.
Hope for Kevin
Kevin has been living with chronic kidney disease for several years. Despite making significant lifestyle changes and having an incredibly supportive family, his kidney function is declining, and dialysis is becoming a reality in the near future. He’s a loving husband to Amy and father to three kids, and he’s determined to regain the energy and hope that kidney disease has taken from him.
A Long Wait
I was diagnosed with kidney disease 7 years ago, and I’ve been on the transplant list for over 3 years. I’ve learned that waiting for a deceased donor can take much longer than we hope, and the wait can leave you feeling stuck in a constant cycle of fatigue and uncertainty. For me, transplant became the best option 4 years ago.
Donors Are Incredible
#incredible – That’s how I feel about the possibility of receiving a living kidney transplant. It’s incredible that someone could be so kind, so selfless, that they would choose to give a part of themselves to save my life. I’ve been living with kidney disease for a few years now, and dialysis three times a week has taken a toll on my life. It’s made me miss out on the things I love—like traveling to Alaska, sitting by the ocean with my mom, and even getting back to the job I loved at the Senior Center. I’ve had to let go of so many things, and I just want the chance to get back to the life I had before dialysis.