Donation stories

[KelliC_NKF]

Why did you decide to be a living donor?

[A_Cuozzo]

Overheard a co-worker sharing the story of his sister's need for a 3rd transplant. I knew nothing of kidney donation and didn't even know someone that wasn't related could donate to another. I was curious and started a week-long research online and knew immediately that there was no reason I couldn't donate. I have always cherished my health and never taken it for granted. My thought was that this would be the best gift I could give someone, knowing how much I appreciated it. I registered with NKR within 2 weeks, as I did not want to select a recipient and thought it would be better for me to let science do that work for me. Most memorable and rewarding experience of my life – I would do it again tomorrow if I could.

[DSKdonor NKF Ambassador]

I became a kidney donor because my Dad needed a kidney! That's it really, didn't think twice just said yes hoping I was a match and qualified! It actually took about 6 weeks to convince him to allow me to be his donor - all the while I was going through my testing!

[Hidden]

Like many, I did It because it touched my life. I am a problem solver. I was caring for my husband full time while he was on dialysis watching him get weaker an weaker. My doctors have told me for years that I am a healthy person, so I wanted to get tested. I didn't think twice about it. Not only was I approved to be a donor, I was a match for him. It was the most difficult problem I was every faced with and it had the easiest solution. ❤

[SoniaBrummer]

Several things happened in my life and it seemed to be fate. A path that I was on without choosing.

For a year and a half, I worked for a company that had a fantastic Owner/CEO. She had PKD and I watched her get very sick (however never on dialysis) and eventually have a transplant. She received a kidney from her then boyfriend, now husband. It was an amazing life experience and I was glad to be a part of her life and watch her bounce back. I'll never forget how white her eyes became a couple days after surgery.

My next job was at a company that made several products used in dialysis. DaVita was their biggest customer. I learned a lot about those products and the dialysis process. I toured a dialysis clinic a couple times and almost fainted. I had some unforgettable experiences. I'm very grateful that I got to work there and learn those things.

At that same job, my supervisor was a kidney donor. She had donated to her late husband years prior. It was his second transplant. She was one of the first to be a living donor and her surgery experience was so different than it is now (slice you wide open, ribs removed, etc). Again, I learned a lot.

This all happened in a 2-3 year time period. Like most good ideas, they come to you when you don't even realize you are thinking, like in the shower or while driving. I remember exactly where I was on 394 in Mpls when I had an epiphany. I'm very healthy, no family history, and if I CAN donate, than I SHOULD donate.

After that, I did a lot of research that reassured me that this was a good decision. A lot of research for a few months. Coincidentally, the facility that does the most kidney transplants in the world was just a couple miles away from my home. (Univ of MN) That was a good sign! Another coincidence, the first significant long term study of living donors was just released a couple months prior to me starting my research. Because this procedure is relatively new in the history of medicine and surgery, it was the first time there was a large enough sample size of living donors who had lived for decades past their surgery. (Also Univ of MN)

I still am on this interesting path with kidneys. I left that job recently and started at a new place- and guess who is right next door? DaVita!

[Sulyn]

My son gave my husband a kidney in 1997. In 2011 my husband's donated kidney began to fail. He was on the UNOS list for some time. I decided to go through the testing to see if I could be a donor. So at 64 years of age I had to go through a lot of testing. Fortunately I was able to be his donor. I gave him my kidney because I wanted him to be well and feel very fortunate that I was able to do so.