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.
As someone who has been living with kidney disease since I was 16, I’ve seen the other side of that gift. Dialysis takes so much from me—my energy, my independence, my ability to work full time, and even simple joys like swimming. A transplant would give me the chance to reclaim those parts of my life. It’s truly the ultimate gift.
Rindee has been battling kidney disease since she was only 16. She’s endured years of dialysis, two failed transplants, countless doctor visits, and dreams of the day she can work full-time again, travel, and simply go swimming without worry. Right now, she spends hours every week tethered to a dialysis machine just to stay alive.
I was only 16 when I was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease. Since then, I’ve been through dialysis three separate times and two transplants that didn’t last. Right now, I’m tethered to dialysis three days a week, each session draining hours from my life and energy from my body. A living donor offers the best hope of a longer-lasting transplant—and a second chance at the life I’ve been fighting for.
Right now, Rindee is one of over 100,000 people in the U.S. waiting for a kidney transplant. But did you know the wait can be cut dramatically if a living donor steps forward? Even more amazing—when someone donates a kidney, their remaining kidney actually grows to handle all the work alone.
Every year, about 6,000 people step up and become living kidney donors in the United States—saving the lives of people like me. I was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease at just 16 years old. Since then, I’ve spent years tied to dialysis, missing out on so many milestones most people take for granted. I dream of the simple things: swimming again, building my career, traveling, even dressing up without worrying about a chest catheter.
Most people can’t imagine waiting years for something that means the difference between life and death. But that’s what I’m facing — a wait for a kidney transplant that could take more than five years. It’s a scary, uncertain place to be. Each day, my body reminds me that time is passing, and my health isn’t getting better while I wait for something I can’t control.
Your encouragement means the world to me! Whether you’re offering kind words, sharing my story, or simply letting me know you’re thinking of me, your support helps me stay hopeful and strong as I navigate this difficult path. While waiting for a deceased donor could take years, I’m focusing on finding a living donor who can offer me the gift of life now. If you can’t donate, sharing this post could help me reach someone who can. Every act of support counts, and your encouragement keeps me going every single day.
Rindee means the world to me, and I want to do everything I can to help her get the life-saving transplant she desperately needs. While I would love to be able to donate myself, unfortunately, medical factors have ruled me out, or I’m unable to donate for other reasons.
One of the biggest hurdles for many potential donors is the fear of a complicated process. Fortunately, most transplant centers have made it remarkably easy to start the evaluation process. In fact, to start the process of stepping forward as my potential kidney donor, you just have to visit my site and complete a short contact form. From there, a GiftWorks Living Donor Navigator (someone who has donated a kidney in the past) will contact you to provide support and guidance. It’s that easy!