Donor Stories

Paul and I had been married almost 45 years when we found out he would have to have a kidney transplant. Three years earlier he had the first of 2 abdominal aorta aneurysms and was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease.

Paul was under the care of Vancouver General Hospital and had had a fistula created in the summer of 1999. When we asked how long a wait for a kidney, the answer was 7-9 years. I just knew that I was meant to donate, so asked the question, “How about testing me?” Just before our planned 45th wedding anniversary trip we found out not only were we the same blood group, but a 4/6 match! Fantastic news.

The testing started once we got back the end of October 1999. Such a hopeful Christmas for us and our family.

Paul started dialysis February 14, 2000 and more tests for me, the last being the psych test (do all donors dread that or was it just me?). How many times had I been asked “Why?” by friends and now the psychiatrist was asking the same question! I was quite miffed to say the least, surely it was obvious I would doing anything in the world to not have him tied to that machine 3 times a week, to have him live, really live, once again? I told him I was selfish … he raised an eyebrow … that we had been married over 45 years and that I wanted Paul around a lot longer. Our

transplant was scheduled for Monday, June 5, 2000, the day after Paul’s last dialysis treatment.

I well remember the theater nurse telling me what a beautiful plump kidney it was and that it made pee right away. No pictures were taken, but last month I got to see that little old kidney doing her stuff via an ultrasound they were doing of Paul’s kidneys, so emotional for me I cried. It was beautiful.

Many people name their donated kidney. I have been asked, “Have you made a name?” I always answer yes: “His.”

Even though I had an open Nephrectomy and the recovery is longer, would I do it again? Yes, in a heartbeat. This is not something one has to mull over or think about, we do it.

So are we “rockin’ 1 kidney”? You bet! Life is beautiful.

We celebrated our 60th wedding anniversary last September and the picture is of Paul and I standing in front of the same altar, where we had said our vows 60 years before on the same date. “For better, for worse from this day forward, amen.”

Hi! I am a registered nurse and kidney donor to my friend. 10-03-07. I don’t remember a lot of other dates but I will never forget 10-03-07. I was privileged enough to be a match for my friend in Detroit, MI. I flew out from California three days prior to surgery. I was amazed at how far medicine has progressed and that donating was only a laparoscopic procedure.

I still joke that it took longer to change the alternator on my car than to donate a kidney! I also like to joke with the recipient about peeing sitting down since I am a female and he is a male!

After donating, I decided to become a dialysis nurse. I wanted to help inspire others to be a donor and to encourage recipients to ask for donors if they need to. I have had no greater joy in my life than to know I was able to help my friend in this way. I love talking about it! I’m so proud of my tiny little scars. My life has not changed a bit. Please become a donor.

– Rita DiCarlo

I’m Laura (age 47) and I became a living kidney donor on December 17, 2014 at Stanford Hospital in California. The recipient is my mother, age 72.

Approximately three years ago, my very healthy mother was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease, FSGS. The family was horrified. Her health began to rapidly decline. She was in and out of the hospital, went on hemodialysis and shortly after, peritoneal. It’s sobering how life and relationships change overnight.

From the beginning of this experience, I knew that if she became eligible for transplant, I would be tested to determine if I was a match. It was not a decision that was contemplated but just primal. She became eligible, I was a match.

Three months post surgeries, I’m back to normal with absolutely no regrets.

I’m working full time, practicing yoga, volunteering with the National Kidney Foundation and California Transplant Donor Network, and actively participating in family life.

I’ve never been happier!

Hi. My name is Jen and I donated my left kidney to a stranger November 26, 2013. To make a long story short, my brother took his life in September 2012. We were just 1 ½ years apart in age and he was my best friend. He left behind three beautiful little boys.

Four months after my brother passed, I found myself deeply depressed and struggling in the grief process. I happened to read a story in our local paper of a single mother of three sons who needed a kidney. I too, am a single mother of sons and felt an immediate connection and an instant reaction to donate.

It was a 9-month process due to having to get myself emotionally ready for the transplant team to approve me. The awesome part is that Heather is doing great and giving cured my depression. Depression ruled my life for a long time and it no longer does! The pain was worth it and I, too, would do it again. My brother saw no other way and felt no hope. Heather and I are proof there’s always hope and I can’t think of a better way to honor life.

I donated my kidney a year ago to a stranger. I tried to help someone else who ended up getting a kidney from another source. After knowing I was approved to donate I couldn’t walk away so I decided to donate my kidney altruistically. This was the best decision of my life. I was able to save someone’s life and in the process made an amazing new friend.

The surgery and recovery went better than I expected and two weeks after our surgery my recipient and I met. Tara has polycystic kidney disease and had at surgery time tumors on both kidneys weighing 30 pounds each! Needless to say her life was agony. I am so happy that my decision to help Tara changed her life and ultimately mine too.

This past year since surgery I have also donated blood four times and donated my hair to Locks of Love. I have lost over 30 pounds and I walk every day to keep my healthy new look up! Most of all I have made a new friend and we are forever connected by a surgery that changed both of our lives.

– Laura Michael Karas

I completed the Walt Disney World Marathon this weekend after donating my kidney to my 6-year-old daughter this past June. Seven months post op and I rocked my one kidney by completing it!

I ran the marathon while Jenna, my daughter, had a cheer competition. She is doing amazing!

I gave my left kidney to a fraternity brother and close friend after hearing about his kidney function depleting to a mere 8% and leaving him in end stage renal failure due to IGA nephropathy.

IGA is a genetic disorder which basically means his immune system saw his kidneys as invaders and attacked them. Initially he had high blood pressure, but then the IGA ended up doing him in. He was able to be on in-home dialysis, and then after much testing we had our transplant on 7/17/2014. You can read ALL about it here!

I’m rocking one kidney playing with my three boys (now 7, 5, and 11 months), volunteering for the Minnesota STEM organization teaching kids about science and engineering, and being an avid app developer for Windows Phone.

Our family traveled to Arkansas on our first “big” family vacation this past summer, and plan on going to Madeline Island (again) this coming summer! We love kayaking, canoeing, swimming, and snow tubing with neighbors!

My recipient is doing awesome and enjoyed his first family holiday with his wife and two little daughters, traveling to various parties and appreciating his newfound freedom. The only thing I’ve done to change my lifestyle is to drink more water – which I recommend to everybody!

My name is Addie and I donated my right kidney at age 24 to one of my best friends, Amy, in May 2014. Amy has an autoimmune disease called lupus that attacked and destroyed her kidneys, and she was on dialysis for 3 years. By a miracle of God, we were a near perfect kidney match!

Today we are both doing great. I just finished my first post-transplant half marathon (less than 6 months later) and am planning to do a lot more running, hiking, swimming, and traveling this year. I’m staying hydrated and eating well to make sure I continue to feel great and rock one kidney!

I would encourage anyone who is considering living kidney donation to be your own advocate, do a lot of research, and pray a lot if you are a person of faith. Ask lots of questions. It is a huge decision, one that can be emotionally taxing at times, but it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and has been totally worth the challenge! Seeing Amy feeling great and knowing that she can be dialysis-free brings me joy!

We learned on Christmas Eve 2004 that my son Jake, who had just turned two years old, was born with only one dysfunctional kidney. For the next eight years we would nurse the limping kidney along. During that time there was never a question that I would be his donor. One way or another, Jake was getting my kidney.

Fast forward to 10/17/13. Jake was 10 years old and it was the day we had been both dreading and looking forward to – the transplant. My husband and his family stayed at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia while I walked what seemed like miles next door to the University of Pennsylvania with my family. Surprisingly I wasn’t nervous, in fact I had a sense of calmness while being wheeled into the OR. All I asked was that they take care of my son.

The next day was a challenge, pain set in, but come hell or high water I was going to see my son. Amped up on pain meds, my sister wheeled me over the day after the transplant to see Jake and give him a kiss.

A year later we are doing great!

–       Dawn Nuss

My name is Amanda Harper (middle in photo). I am 34 years old and donated my kidney to my brother-in-law (left) on September 5, 2014 in Indianapolis, Indiana. My sister (right) and her husband Derek have been together since the 7th grade, so Derek isn’t just my brother in law … He’s more like my actual brother. He is my sister’s everything and my niece and nephew’s father.

Derek has had polycystic kidney disease (which is hereditary) since he was 19. He is now 36 and his disease caught up to him very fast – within months, actually. There was no question that I wanted to get tested. But my sister wanted to be tested as well. Oddly enough, my sister and I were both matches. Bad news was that through my sister’s testing, she was quickly ruled out due to existing health issues.

I continued with the testing and we had our successful transplant just a week and a half ago. I am now rocking one kidney! I have shocked everyone with my quick recovery and I’m looking forward to what’s ahead.