My Story

For twenty years, kidney disease has been the quiet force shaping my life. In the beginning, the decline was slow—something I could manage, something I could work around. But over time, the disease became more demanding, more intrusive, and eventually impossible to ignore. The moment my doctors told me it was time to prepare for a transplant was the moment everything changed. It was no longer a distant concern. It was urgent.

I’ve now been on the kidney transplant list for a year. More than 100,000 people in the United States are waiting for the same lifesaving gift, which means the wait can stretch up to three years. That’s three years of uncertainty, three years of watching your health decline, three years of hoping your name rises to the top of a list that never stops growing.

But there is another path—one that doesn’t require waiting. A direct donation from a living donor bypasses the long list entirely. And living donor kidneys last longer, function better, and carry a lower risk of rejection. It is truly the most powerful gift one person can give another.

I’m fortunate to have people in my life who have stepped forward, willing to donate. Each offer has meant the world to me. But every one of them has faced their own medical barriers that prevent them from qualifying. Their love and willingness have been a source of strength, even though the outcomes weren’t what any of us hoped for.

Living with kidney disease has reshaped my daily life in ways I never expected. I’ve had to become vigilant about things I once took for granted—what I eat, how I move, the medications I take, the endless appointments that fill my calendar. And through it all, the hardest part has been the uncertainty. Not knowing what the future looks like. Not knowing how much of that future I have left.

I’m an only child, and both of my parents are gone. Emotional support has been essential, and I’m blessed with a devoted husband, lifelong friends who have stood by me for decades, and family—my aunt and cousins—who have wrapped me in love and encouragement. Their support has carried me through the moments when the weight of this journey feels too heavy to bear alone.

This is an urgent request. My health continues to decline, and time is running out. A living donor could change everything. It could give me back the future that kidney disease has slowly taken away.

If you feel called to explore becoming a donor—or even just to learn more—your compassion could be the beginning of a new life.