It’s been almost six years since I donated and I am happy, healthy and truly rocking one kidney! One of my favorite ways I rock one kidney is by volunteering for the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) to advocate for policies that can increase early diagnosis and treatment for kidney disease, as well as increase living donation and access to transplant. This has included representing NKF on the Colorado Kidney Disease Task Force, as well as traveling to Washington, D.C. yearly to advocate on Capitol Hill as part of the Kidney Patient Summit. In 2024, I was honored to receive NKF’s “Arthur P. Pasquarella Leadership in Action Award” and in 2025 was named one of NKF’s 75 changemakers in honor of NKF’s 75th anniversary. Each day that I get to rock one kidney, I am reminded that as part of a kidney paired exchange, my dad got his life back for four great years, and my recipient (and now my “kidney sister”) is happy, healthy and enjoying life with her husband, kids and grandkids!
– Kelli Strother
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