Background:

1.) What is your age? 69 1/2

2.) Do you have children or grandchildren? Yes, 1- son; 1-grandson

3.) How long have you been married? 38 years

4.) Are you on Dialysis Currently? Yes

5.) What type of Dialysis do you currently conduct? In-center Hemodialysis

6.) What emotional toll has Kidney Failure had on you?  The Transplant requirement to be available on very short notice, limits travel, and visiting family.  Having reached out to family, friends, organizations and not finding a donor. Having to ask people if they are interested is a toll. Several friends have been tested, but I don’t know results due to privacy issues.  Waiting for a transplant, I need to be on a 2-hour notice to be available for the transplant.  A Kidney will allow me to be more mobile.  I am on the Paired Exchange Donation, but to date friends and family are not candidates.   My wife is not a candidate because she is diabetic.  I am adopted.  My natural sister reached out to me several years ago.  I have been in contact with her, but she has Incubation and is not a candidate.  My son was also adopted.  He is a pilot in the Air Force and not a candidate. Frustrating issues at his dialysis center.  Recently had a problem at dialysis. They burst a vein and I infiltrated BAD.  I am concerned about the impact on my wife, Kathy.

7.) If you could talk to someone who is interested in donating to you, what would you say? I would tell them I am about to turn 70, ready to retire.  I would like to return to a normal routine. I had planned to be able to travel with ease, other than scheduled point to point.  I would like to have more time for my hobby, photography.  Finding a donor, I would be more mobile; I’ll be able to travel to see my son, Chris, and grandson Devin.  A transplant from a living donor has a better chance of lasting longer.  

8.) What is your blood type? A+

9.) Where are you listed (name of Transplant Center)? Emory Hospital, Atlanta, GA, Living Donor Team at Emory at 1-855-366-7989 (option 1)

10.) Once you receive your Kidney, what do you plan on doing with your future?  Build my strength back up. Travel to some areas that currently have limited options/availability. Take another trip to Ireland.  Return to a “normal” lifestyle.

11.) What happened that caused you to need a Kidney Transplant? From my biopsy: Vaguely nodular membranoproliferative  type glomerulonephritis (MPGN) with advanced glomenuloscleriosis, interstitial fibrosis, and tubular atrophy.

12.) Do you have a specific religion or religious affiliation? Episcopal 

13.) How has Kidney Failure/Dialysis impacted your quality of life? Limited travel options.  My son is a pilot in the Air Force and currently stationed in Wichita, KS, I would like to visit more/longer.  My wife’s family is from New England.  Travel requires a lot of planning.  The impact of a renal diet has been frustrating.  Frustration at life interruption of 4-5 hours three days a week for dialysis.  The additional stress of not knowing is tough. I do not have the physical strength that I had before.

14.) What is the first thing that you plan on doing after you have recovered from your Kidney Transplant Surgery? Celebrate. Travel to spend time with my son & grandson.  Return to normalcy. Get back into Photography.  Take a trip on a train or a cruise.

15.) Add any other information which you think may be peculiar to you, and would be of interest to a potential donor. We believe in emphasizing the uniqueness of the individual.  I am a staff Architect at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  I support the Office of Infectious Disease; space planning to accommodate additional staff; modifications to Laboratories.  I am interested in trains and train travel.  I am interested in Classic cars. I am an amateur photographer.  I volunteer for neighborhood issues.  Recently I was part of a study for cityhood.  I was on the parks & recreational team.

17.) Even if you are not a match, you can still help me receive a transplant. This is because of paired kidney exchanges - an intricate process of mixing and matching recipients and their donors in an ever-widening pool until the right pairings are found.  Prior to your donation, you will receive a thorough medical exam by Emory transplant team to evaluate your overall health and look for any unknown problems. Emory's transplant team wants to protect your health too! New surgical techniques allow doctors to remove a kidney using smaller incisions than ever before. Today's living kidney donors are usually out of the hospital within 2 days and back to work within a minimum of 2 weeks.  Emory has a website with more information regarding living donation that you can view.  The site is http://www.transplant.emory.edu   or www.emoryhealthcare.org/transplant-center

Stephen's Note:

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,

Stephen

What is the Altruistic Living Donor Program?

The Altruistic Living Donor Program matches altruistic (selfless) donors with recipients awaiting transplantation. The transplant team is available to fully evaluate all potential living donors, whether living-related, emotionally-related or altruistic. The Renal and Pancreas Transplant Division is experienced in the evaluation and management of all living donors. 

Click here to learn about how safe Living Kidney Donation really is.

Click here to learn more about the urgent need for more kind-hearted, generous potential Living Kidney Donors like you!

Why You Should Consider Being A Living Kidney Donor:

The kidney transplant wait list has been increasing sharply in the US over the past two decades. Most transplants come from deceased donors — people who elect to donate their organs when they die. But there's another large source of potential kidneys: living donors. Since we have two kidneys, most people can share a kidney with other people. Most living donors give a kidney to someone they know, like a relative or a friend. But there are also non-directed living kidney donors, other wise known as altruistic donors or good samaritans. Watch this video to see the story of one such donor, Dylan Matthews.

Hear From An Expert:

Phil Fischer, M.D., Mayo Clinic Children's Center physician at, tells how a young patient in need of a kidney transplant touched his heart and prompted him to explore anonymous living donation, sometimes referred to as Good Samaritan, non-directed, or altruistic donation.

Video Testimonial:

Toni was Cynthia's personal trainer and became much more when she donated her kidney to her December 1st, 2015. Go to donatelife.net for more information about organ donation. All music available on YouTube Audio Library.

Written Testimonial:

“If it can help someone, my goodness yes, do it. What’s the downside?” - Marc (Living Kidney Donor)

Marc is a pragmatic man. A former venture capitalist and the current executive vice president of the Steadman Hawkins Research Foundation, Marc didn’t get where he is today by letting emotion rule the day. To Marc, life is about analyzing the facts and making a decision accordingly. Nothing more. “But, there are times one has to say, ‘What the heck? Go for it,’” he says.

So when his older brother needed a kidney, Marc gave him one, and he did it without a ton of emotion or debate.

“If you see someone standing in front of a dangerous situation, you do something to stop impending disaster,” Marc said matter-of-factly. “It’s what we’re supposed to do.”

Marc’s older brother, Alexander, was diagnosed with kidney disease before he was old enough to walk. Back then, the doctors told Alexander’s parents he probably wouldn’t live to enter kindergarten. But he did. Then the doctors said he wouldn’t live to see his 10th birthday. But he did.

The ominous predictions continued, but his will to live always won out. As medications advanced, Alexander was able to control his disease without dialysis. As children, Alexander’s three brothers probably didn’t know that Alexander’s health—even his ability to live one year longer—was so precarious. “I don’t think that we were ever fully aware of that. We just knew our brother was sick,” Marc recalled.

When Marc was about 12, he remembers telling his brother he would give him a kidney if he ever needed one. Thirty-two years later, in August 1996, Alexander took him up on that offer.

By now Alexander’s kidneys had deteriorated to the point where it was clear he might not survive without a new kidney. Marc immediately asked to be tested to see if he would be a match.

“It was just a no-brainer,” Marc said. Even back then, he didn’t really see it as that big of a deal.

“This is just one of the things I’ve got going on in the next couple of weeks,” Marc recalled thinking. “I’ve got meetings, a new business venture, a new home and other things I’m doing as well.”

Marc was a match—which he always sensed he would be—and the surgery was scheduled. Before the operation, Marc was in great physical health, and his brother obviously wasn’t. For a short time, the surgery flip-flopped that. Now Marc was recovering from major surgery, but Alexander was immediately feeling better because he had a new kidney that was doing its job. But that didn’t last.

About six months after the surgery, Alexander developed complications with one of his medications, and began to have some rejection reactions. The doctors were advising that he get rid of the donated kidney and go on dialysis. He called Marc and asked for his opinion. It was his kidney, after all.

“It’s yours now. You can do what you want with it,” Marc recalled telling his brother. Together they assessed different treatment options that could be done while preserving the donated kidney. Ultimately, Alexander’s condition improved. That was nearly 13 years ago. Today, Alexander is retired and living with his wife in Florida.

Marc said he never really suffered any effects as a result of donating one kidney. An avid bicyclist and skier before and after surgery, he says nothing has changed in his life. Marc doesn’t think too often about his choice to give his brother a kidney. Occasionally, he’s reminded by the scar, but even in retrospect, the decision was simple. And he hopes others will consider doing the same.

Frequently Asked Questions About Living Kidney Donation:

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.

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.

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:

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