Advances in surgical techniques have made kidney donation far less invasive than many people imagine. Most living kidney donations today are performed using laparoscopic surgery, which involves small incisions—usually three or four—that heal with minimal scarring. Donors often return to normal daily activities within weeks, and most go on to live long, healthy lives.
Living kidney donation is not limited by geography. You can donate a kidney to someone who lives in another city—or even another state. Hospitals and transplant centers work closely with donors and recipients to coordinate care, including travel and accommodations. In fact, many donors and recipients don’t meet until the transplant process begins.
Eric has been living with kidney disease since he was just 11 years old. Over the years, he’s faced unimaginable challenges — not one, but two kidney transplants that ultimately failed. Now, he’s back on dialysis, which takes up 25–30 hours of his week. It leaves him exhausted, but it hasn’t taken away his spirit or his hope.
Support, in all its forms, truly matters. Whether it is a comment, a conversation, or someone spreading awareness on my behalf, it adds up. It reminds me that I am not alone in this. That people care. That we are all connected in ways we sometimes forget.
This is one of the most common misconceptions about living kidney donation. In truth, kidney donation is a safe procedure for healthy individuals. While all surgeries carry some risk, living kidney donors are carefully evaluated to ensure they are in excellent health before surgery. Most donors return home within a few days and resume normal activities in just a few weeks.
This is a common misconception. The truth is, most people only need one healthy kidney to live a normal, active life. In fact, thousands of people are born with just one kidney or donate one and go on to live full, healthy lives.
That’s why I’m reaching out—to ask for your help. We’re searching for someone willing to consider becoming a living kidney donor. You don’t need to be a match to start the process. Just taking the time to learn more could be the first step toward saving Xinfan’s life.
John means the world to me, and I’m doing everything I can to help him get the life-saving transplant he desperately needs. I wish I could be the one to donate, but unfortunately, I’m not eligible. That won’t stop me from fighting for him.
Sometimes the most meaningful way to #makeadifference is by helping one person in a life-changing way. I’m currently in need of a living kidney donor, and I’m sharing my story in the hope that someone out there might be that one match who can give me the chance to live a healthier life.
Life — it’s what we hold onto, fight for, and dream about. For someone in need of a kidney transplant, life means the chance to regain energy, purpose, and precious time with loved ones.
That chance can come from a living kidney donor. One healthy person has the ability to change everything — to offer someone the opportunity to feel whole again. Living donation is safe, and donors go on to live full, active lives, knowing they’ve helped another person do the same.
