For the people who mean the most to me, what's ahead and how your support could save my life.
Why I Need a Kidney, and Ideally One from a Living Donor
What is PKD and why do you have it? Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is a genetic condition that causes cysts to grow in the kidneys, slowly reducing how well they work. It runs in my family, and I inherited it too. Over time, it can lead to kidney failure. Like many people with PKD, I’ve also dealt with things like high blood pressure and kidney stones, but the biggest challenge is knowing that my kidneys will eventually stop working on their own. Source: pkdcure.org
What are you currently experiencing with chronic kidney disease, and how will it progress? I live with constant fatigue and low energy, which makes even small tasks take more effort. My body sometimes struggles to regulate temperature, and my skin gets dry and itchy; things that seem minor, but add up day after day. These symptoms are part of living with chronic kidney disease (CKD), which slowly worsens over time. As kidney function declines, it can cause swelling, muscle cramps, and nausea. I work closely with my doctors to manage these changes and stay as healthy and active as possible while preparing for a transplant. Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-kidney-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20354521
What will happen if you don’t get a kidney transplant? Without a transplant, I would have to start dialysis to stay alive. Dialysis keeps you going, but it’s not living. It means being hooked up to a machine for hours at a time — several days each week, or sometimes every night — while it filters your blood because your kidneys no longer can. It leaves people drained, sore, and often too tired to do much else. For many, dialysis becomes life itself with the appointments, needles, fatigue, over and over again. It would make it hard to work, travel, or enjoy the simple moments I love most with family and friends. While I’m deeply grateful that dialysis exists, it’s not the life I hope for. A kidney transplant would give me back my energy, my freedom, and the chance to live fully again, not just survive. For more detailed information, you can explore resources like MUSC Health.
Have you considered having your siblings donate a kidney? Yes, I have. Unfortunately, my brother also has Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), so he isn’t eligible to donate. My sister was originally going to be my donor, but during the pandemic we learned that she, too, has PKD. My sister-in-law even offered to donate, but she only has one kidney. My mom also has PKD, which means most of my immediate family can’t donate. It’s been difficult to realize that the people who love me most can’t help in this way, but it’s also made me deeply grateful for anyone willing to consider becoming a living donor.
Why is a living kidney better? A kidney from a living donor gives me the best possible chance at a healthy, lasting life. Living donor kidneys usually work better and last longer because they come from someone whose organ is functioning perfectly at the time of donation. Unlike kidneys from deceased donors, they don’t go through hours without blood flow, which can cause damage before the transplant. A living donation also means the surgery can be carefully planned at a time when both the donor and I are healthy and ready. That makes recovery smoother and the transplant more successful. Most of all, it offers the gift of time: more years of good health, energy, and the chance to live fully again with the people I love.
Why is it important for you to have multiple donors lined up? Having more than one potential donor gives me the best chance of finding a strong match and a successful, lasting transplant. It also helps in case someone isn’t a match or can’t move forward, so the process doesn’t get delayed. Even if a donor isn’t a direct match for me, they could still help through a paired exchange, where their gift helps someone else, and another donor helps me. Each person who steps forward reminds me how much kindness there is in the world, and how many people are willing to give others a second chance at life. https://www.kidney.org/transplantation/livingdonors/kidney-paired-donation
Are you currently on the kidney donation waitlist? Yes, I’m on the national kidney transplant waitlist, which matches patients with kidneys from deceased donors. Unfortunately, these kidneys don’t last as long and can come with more complications. Because my blood type (B+) is common, the wait can be very long, often close to ten years. Being on the list brings hope, but also uncertainty. Every year that passes means my kidney function declines a little more, and I get closer to needing dialysis. That’s why finding a living donor offers the best hope. It could mean years of health and a chance to truly live again, instead of waiting for time to run out.
When will you know when you need a transplant? My doctors track my kidney function through a measure called GFR. When it falls to around 15, that means kidney failure, the point when I’ll need a transplant. Even before that, I’ll start to feel it: deep fatigue, nausea, and the sense of being unwell every day. The hope is to receive a preemptive transplant ( before reaching that stage) because outcomes are much better and life can return to normal sooner. Finding a match before then would mean everything, giving me the chance to stay healthy and live fully again.
The Kidney Donation Process for You and Me
Do I need to be a matching blood type to donate a kidney? No, you do not. Even if our blood types are not compatible, you can still help me through a kidney paired exchange, sometimes called a kidney swap. In this process, your kidney would go to someone who is a match for you, and their donor would give a kidney to me. It creates a chain of donations that helps more than one person at the same time. You can also choose to donate through a voucher program. That means you could donate a kidney now, and I would receive a voucher that guarantees me a living donor kidney when I need it. Both of these options make it possible to help me even if we are not a direct match, while also giving hope and life to others in need. Sources: Mayo Clinic, National Kidney Registry, Johns Hopkins Medicine.
What are the risks of donating a kidney to me? Donating a kidney is a significant but very safe decision. Most donors recover quickly and go on to live healthy, active lives. The surgery itself carries some short-term discomfort and a brief recovery period, but serious complications are rare. In the long term, donors usually notice little or no change in their health. The remaining kidney naturally adjusts and takes on the extra work. Regular checkups help ensure everything continues to function normally. Transplant centers are extremely careful about approving donors and provide ongoing support before, during, and after surgery. It is a process designed to protect you and set you up for a full, healthy life. Choosing to donate is an extraordinary act of kindness that can give someone years of life, health, and hope, a gift that truly lasts forever. The National Kidney Foundation provides a wealth of resources for potential donors, outlining both the process and the support available. Their resources aim to support and inform potential donors every step of the way, highlighting the profound impact their gift can have on a recipient’s life.
What is the kidney screening process like? How long does it take? The process starts with a short online form and some simple blood and urine tests. If everything looks good, the next step is a more detailed checkup with doctors and specialists to make sure donation is completely safe for you. They’ll review your health, blood type, and compatibility with me. The whole process can take a few weeks to a few months, depending on how quickly appointments and results come through. Much of it can be done virtually, with just one or two visits in person. The transplant team is great at guiding donors through every step. If you decide to get tested, you won’t have to do it alone. I’d love to come with you, take you out for lunch, and make a day of it. You’d have my full support the whole way.
What happens after you’re approved to donate? Once a donor is approved, the transplant team coordinates with both the donor and me to schedule the surgery at a time that works best for everyone. The process is flexible, and the hospital makes sure each step feels manageable and safe. Before surgery, the donor meets again with the transplant team to review the plan, ask any final questions, and ensure they’re completely comfortable. The procedure itself usually takes a few hours, and most donors spend one to three days in the hospital before going home to recover. Throughout the process, the team provides ongoing support — and I’ll be there too, to help in any way I can.
What is recovery from donating a kidney like? Thanks to modern surgical techniques, recovery after donating a kidney is much easier than most people expect. The procedure is usually done laparoscopically, using tiny incisions instead of a large one. Most donors stay in the hospital for one to three days and are back to normal activities shortly after. To put it in perspective, recovery is typically faster and less invasive than a C section. Some hospitals, like Weill Cornell, even use a single incision through the navel, which can further reduce scarring and speed up healing. Sources: Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Weill Cornell Medicine.
Where do you recommend having the kidney surgery? I'm registered for transplant at at Weill Cornell Medicine but also registering at NYU Langone in New York City. Both are excellent centers with strong track records in kidney transplants. I was drawn to Weill Cornell because they focus heavily on living donor transplants and use advanced, minimally invasive techniques that make recovery easier. NYU Langone also has an incredible program and has performed the most kidney transplants overall. Either hospital would provide exceptional care and guide donors through every step with safety and compassion.
Should I donate now or later? You can choose to donate whenever the timing feels right for you. If you are ready before I actually need the transplant, there is a program called a voucher program. It lets you donate a kidney now, and I would receive a voucher that guarantees me a living donor kidney when the time comes. This kind of donation, often called a Good Samaritan donation, can save a life right away and also give me the security of knowing a kidney will be waiting when I need it most. It gives you the freedom to choose what works best for you while helping more than one person at once. If you think you might want to donate to me, I encourage you to get tested soon. There is no reason to wait, and starting now helps us understand compatibility and plan ahead. It is a beautiful, life changing act of kindness that brings hope, healing, and the chance for a healthy future. To learn more or start the process, visit the National Kidney Registry Voucher Program or begin the donor screening here: https://nkr.donorscreen.org/register/microsite?id=8126&donationType=0
What about costs (e.g. lost wages, lodging for family, childcare) while donating? All medical costs for the donation, including testing, surgery, the hospital stay, and recovery, are fully covered by my insurance. You would not have to pay for any of that. Programs like DonorShield and the National Living Donor Assistance Center (NLDAC) can also help with travel, lodging, childcare, and lost wages. This means there would be no financial costs for you, even for the days you need to take off work. These programs are designed to make sure donors are fully supported and never left with expenses for doing something so generous. While it is illegal to pay for an organ, U.S. law allows recipients to cover these related costs. I would be honored to take care of them as a small way to thank you for the gift you would be giving me.
What if down the line for some reason I need a kidney? If you ever find yourself in need of a kidney transplant after having donated one, you'll be given a priority status on the transplant list. This prioritization is part of a policy to ensure that those who have donated a kidney and later need one themselves are given prompt access to a transplant. The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) recognizes the sacrifice of living donors by providing them with this priority, which significantly shortens their wait time compared to non-donors. For instance, a study highlighted that donors had a median wait time of about 145 days, which is much shorter than the average for non-donors, who might wait much longer. Moreover, the National Kidney Registry facilitates priority access for prior living donors through specific programs like the Voucher Program and paired exchange donations, ensuring they receive a compatible kidney swiftly if needed. For more information on how this process works and the protections in place for kidney donors, you can visit pages like the National Kidney Registry and OPTN's FAQ on Kidney Allocation System.
Other Useful Information
What are some important facts about kidney donation? Learning a few key facts can help put the impact of living donation in perspective: More than 100,000 people in the United States are currently waiting for a kidney transplant. A kidney from a living donor can last 15 to 20 years or more, compared to about 10–12 years for one from a deceased donor. Living donor transplants have a better success rate and shorter recovery times for recipients. Every year, more than 6,000 people generously choose to donate a kidney while alive. 98 percent of living donors say they would make the same decision again.
Who are some celebrities that have donated or received kidneys? Several well-known people have shared their transplant stories, helping raise awareness about kidney disease and the power of living donation: Selena Gomez received a kidney from her best friend Francia Raisa after battling lupus nephritis. Sarah Hyland has received two kidney transplants, one from her father and another from her brother, after living with kidney dysplasia. Alonzo Mourning, former NBA star, received a transplant in 2003 due to a kidney condition called focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. George Lopez received a kidney from his then-wife in 2005 to treat a genetic condition. These stories remind us that kidney disease can affect anyone and that living donors truly have the power to save lives.
Helpful Links and Stories: Here are some resources and stories that I have found helpful and inspiring. They offer clear information about living donation and share the voices of people who have experienced it firsthand.
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Learn About Donation: These trusted medical resources explain how living kidney donation works, who can donate, and what to expect at every step:
NKF's Donor Resources: https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/becoming-living-donor
American Transplant Foundation: https://www.americantransplantfoundation.org/living-donation/
National Kidney Registry Transplant Program: https://www.kidneyregistry.org/for-donors/voucher-program/
NKDO: National Kidney Donation Organization
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Stories from Real Donors: Reading real stories can be one of the best ways to understand the experience of living donation.
NKF's Patient Stories: https://www.kidney.org/newsroom-blog-topics/patient-stories
American Transplant Foundation Stories: https://www.americantransplantfoundation.org/living-donation-2/true-stories/
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