Background: 

Dear Donor,

Things are getting rough, but I refuse to give up this fight because by doing so I don't just lose the battle, I lose my life and as a husband and father I cannot give up that easily. When I was establishing my Find A Kidney Donor Campaign I hoped that it would attract someone like you. Someone with compassion who would take a moment out of their life to spend here trying to understand what's going on in mine. And in fact I'm suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD) brought on by hypertension which is the second leading cause of kidney failure. My sad luck is that I also have suffered from diabetes which is the leading cause of CKD and kidney failure. When the kidney fails there is no therapy or medication that can bring it back. When the kidneys fail they are gone for good, leaving only two options available to remain alive which are to either receive dialysis treatments or a transplant. Transplantation is a far better choice because it offers more freedom and a longer life. The scientific research proves that humans can live their life span with one healthy kidney and the health data shows that the transplant procedure is deemed medically safe having been performed tens of thousands of times in the more than 60 years since the first attempt. These are exceptionally good times to be a living donor because the procedure is done by laparoscopic incision leaving only a mark of two or three inches and a recovery time of just a few days. For those who have it in their hearts to be a life saver, it truly is the right time in this age of modern medicine. And that is what I am hoping you will remember in the days ahead because I need you to be my donor. I need you to help me past this interruption in my life and give me an opportunity to do the good work I have my mind set on. I thought that at this time in my life I would be puttering along toward fulfilling those dreams my wife and I spent so much time discussing. We were supposed to be pursuing happiness and helping our community grow stronger - lending ourselves to charitable work that performs good deeds. We had it all planned out, but it hasn't worked out that way in fact back in 2013 I had a small stroke from all the pressure. It's been too much. I need help to survive this thing and I hope you will be the donor I need so much. 

All of us have a purpose.........I have yet to fulfill mine and if given the chance I want to assure you that the good that comes from my life will be in large part a credit to yours because I could not have done it without you. I could not have even moved past this narrow box I am in without you. What I am asking of you will change the course of our lives. You will be a life-saving hero and I will have my life saved with enormous gratitude to you. Please be my donor and join the over 5000 living donors who last year presented themselves to help others who were dying. If you contact me below I will be happy to discuss whatever questions you may have. Thank you for showing up and give me your attention. I want to leave you with one thing which is a final request that you please be my donor. I would love to hear from you. 

Sincerely, 

Craig Lazner

A Note From Craig:

Hello,

Thank you for expressing interest and showing your support of my need for a living kidney donor. 

I would like you to know that the process of living kidney donation is safe, and if you or someone you know would like to donate, then please send me a message (below). Thanks again!

Regards,

Craig

Hear From An Expert:

Video Testimonial:

Kidney transplant recipient Kelly Belgrave and her lifelong friend, now fiancée Netfa Rickets tell the story of how Netfa became a living donor and donated one of his kidneys to Kelly, when her kidneys began to fail due to diabetes. 

Written Testimonial:

Jeff, a 34-year-old living donor, shares what he went through when donating a kidney for his brother Mark, who is 38.

My brother has had type 1 diabetes since he was 12 years old. My family knew he might have kidney failure someday. But it happened a lot sooner than we expected. One day his creatinine levels jumped from 2 to 6.8. So, we got slapped in the face with the reality that he was going to have to go on dialysis.

As soon as my sister and I heard the news, we said "OK, let’s find out if one of us can be a donor." There was no hesitation at all. My sister and I actually had a contest going as to who was going to win and get to donate.

I got out of the hospital three days after the surgery. I stayed at my parent’s house for a week and a half. My kids were five and six months at the time. And I was worried my five year old would be jumping all over me wanting to play. So I thought it would be best for me to recover at my parent’s.

That first week I slept a lot. Mark came by to visit every day. He lives very close to my parents. His recovery seemed to go about four times easier than mine. He’d come over and tease me, saying "Hey man, you look like hell."

I planned on going back to work in two weeks. I have a desk job so it’s not like I do physical labor. But that first day back at work, I was only able to work for three hours, and I was beat. But it got better each day. I was back at work full time three weeks after the surgery.

Seven months after the surgery, I’m back to my normal activities. I run and golf for exercise, play around with my kids, and have a few beers on occasion.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Who can be a donor?

To qualify as a living donor, an individual must be in good health, free from any serious medical problems and between the ages of 21 and 60.

What are the risks involved?

Donating a kidney does not have any long-term effect on health. Donors may experience a slight rise in blood pressure and a small amount of excess protein in the urine following surgery. There is no greater risk of developing kidney failure after donating at kidney than anyone in the general population.

Are there activities that I will not be able to do in the future if I choose to donate a kidney?

In general, donating a kidney does not have any long-term effect on health. Some restrictions do apply following donor surgery, including reducing or eliminating the use of NSAIDS and avoiding any activity that may cause injury to the surgical area.

Does the evaluation process have to be completed at Penn?

The entire evaluation process is completed at Penn; however, if the prospective donor lives at a distance, arrangements can be made for some of the initial screening to be done at the donor's location.

Who makes the final decision on potential donors?

Based on the evaluation results, the Transplant team (comprised of nephrologists, nurses, social workers, dieticians and other transplant specialists) decides whether or not to proceed with a living donor kidney transplant as the best therapeutic option.

Who pays for the donor's medical expenses?

The recipient's insurance covers all of the donor's evaluation and hospitalization costs; however, it does not cover lost income, transportation costs or personal expenses. The transplant financial advisor reviews the potential donor/recipient procedures and associated costs carefully prior to the evaluation.

How long will I be in the hospital?

Most donors remain in the hospital for two to three days.

What is the recovery process like?

Most kidney donors resume normal activities four to six weeks after surgery. Donors are not able to drive for three to four weeks after discharge and are not permitted to lift heavy objects. You may need assistance with daily living activities during this time.

How long will I be out of work?

Depending on the nature of the work, donors typically return to work between 10 days and two weeks.

What happens if I decide not to become a living liver donor?

At any point, for any reason, the evaluation process can be stopped. The recipient will remain active on the transplant list and is free to find another potential living donor.

Shocking Stats:

Chief Medical Officer (United Network for Organ Sharing) Dr. David Klassen (Nephrologist) said in a Huffington Post article, "I’ve also witnessed the results of the severe organ shortage in this country. Too often I’ve lost patients because the organ they needed did not come in time. Too many lives cut short. Too many dreams unlived." The following are a few very sobering stats which Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis patients should share as well as their loved ones:

90,000 - The number of Dialysis patients that die every year according to Renal and Urology News. 

121,076 - The number of people currently waiting for a lifesaving organ in the United States, as reported by the United Network for Organ Sharing. 

100,269 - The number of patients awaiting a Kidney Transplant specifically. This suggests that approximately 80.9% of the entire organ transplant waiting list is made of individuals in need of a kidney. It is important to note that living kidney donation is very safe and if found to be a match, a donor would undergo a rigorous health evaluation before donating to ensure good long-term health outcomes.

22 - The number of people who die every single day, waiting for a transplant.

4,500 - The number of Chronic Kidney Disease patients that die every year waiting for a kidney transplant, as noted by the Living Kidney Donor Network.

6 - The number of people added to the transplant wait list every hour, reported by Huffington Post.

0 (zero) - The number of major religions that are against their members donating an organ. All major organized religions in the United States are favorable of organ and tissue donation and most likely consider it an act of charity.

Take A Moment To Learn What A Difference You Could Make:

The Need For Living Kidney Donors

“There are about 90,000 people waiting for kidney transplants in the United States,” says Dr. Gibney. “There are about 14,000 kidney transplants a year. Each year, more people are in need of organs and get added to that list.

So that’s one of the things that makes living donation so important is that there’s a fairly limited supply of organs. If there are friends or family members who can give, that can save lives and really extend people’s lives by years and years.”

Media:

If you would like to share Craig's story via your publication, then please send a direct message below.