Hello!

[Lpgath]

Hi there! I'm a 35-year-old wife and mother of 2 kids, 11 and 9 years old. I was diagnosed at 11 myself through biopsy with a post streptococcal MPGN Type 1 chronic glomerulonephritis. I am not on dialysis yet, but GFR at 13 now. I was just put on the UNOS list as of June 6th and testing my living donors for transplant. I'm O+ blood type. Working with University Transplant in San Antonio, and live in Austin, TX. Love reading your stories of transplant and hoping to be there myself sooner rather than later.

😊 Lindsay

[maryalraines NKF Ambassador]

Hi Lindsay. I was listed at University SA as well as Methodist Houston & UTMB Galveston. I am also O+ which is a popular blood type but in high demand making it sometimes difficult to get a donor. I had exhausted all my friends & family and could see dialysis was going to be my future until I found matchingdonors.com

I found a living donor through this resource. Let me know if you would like find out more regarding this resource. I'm now 19 mos post transplantedand living life to the fullest.

[Lpgath in reply to maryalraines]

That is amazing to hear, so happy for you! I know I'll be in that same place some day. I appreciate the info, I will definitely keep it in mind. I actually had my biopsies as a child at UTMB in Galveston too As soon as I was given the info to give potential donors I did a Facebook live video to friends and family and made it public, explaining my history and the process of donation. Ive done a few since then, just trying to raise awareness and maybe spark in someone else to be a donor out there too for others. They have been shared and viewed so many times, I've been blessed with having many donors apply. They've gotten insurance approval to have 5 tested at a time, so we are still on this first round and they are working quickly in hopes to keep me off of dialysis. I have a few family members that are O+, including my husband and because we have kids together we share antibodies. We are hoping to know something with these first 5 being tested, hopefully this week or next.

Did you end up having your transplant at University, or one of the others?

[maryalraines NKF Ambassador in reply to Lpgath]

Actually my donor from matchingdonors came to Meth Hou and was tested and matched but didn't want to do it here but was still willing to do the surgery so she wanted to do it in Milwaukee WI @ Froedtert. I spent 3.5 months in the cold up there as that was the requirement by their transplant drs. Quite a journey for this TX girl.

[Lpgath in reply to maryalraines]

Wow! Yes, I'm sure it was. So glad it was worth it in the end 😊

[JenN18 in reply to Lpgath]

I'm O+ as well. My family members are either the wrong type or have too many health issues to be tested. My husband is my type, but with small children, I'm sort of scared to have us both out of commission.

[kidneystories]

Thank you for introducing yourself. I hope all your transplant dreams and wishes come true. Please keep us posted on what is happening.

[Lpgath in reply to kidneystories]

Thank you! 😊

[kidneystories in reply to Lpgath]

Your welcome! Excited to follow your journey.