Hello, my name is Danny Ledesma and I donated my spare kidney through the paired-exchanged program at UC Health in Denver, Colorado on October 10, 2018. Shortly after my Grandfather's retirement (I refer to him hereafter as "Pop"), his health began to rapidly decline, and doctors advised he was experiencing renal failure which would require … Continue reading Meet Kidney Donor Athlete, Danny!
It has now been 16 months since I said goodbye to my spare, and sent it to live with a very nice gentleman in Bainbridge Island, Washington. I can honestly say, after much reflection, that the past year and a half has been the best time of my life, and that the act of donating … Continue reading Benefits of Being a Donor – Steve Tucker
(If you haven't followed along on Clinton's kidney donation journey be sure to click here to get caught up!) Time flies when you are having fun! It has been a little over a year since my kidney donation, and so much has happened after my last update. The most important thing is my uncle's … Continue reading Update From Clinton!
I’ve always been that girl who played just about every sport that was available to her. When I was little my days were spent on either softball fields or volleyball courts. As I got older, I turned to activities like karate, pilates, and running. I am now the owner of RunFit MKE, a studio in … Continue reading Meet Kidney Donor Athlete, Karen!
I have been a cheerleader, dancer, and performer since I made the varsity cheerleading squad in 1995. I have always loved being active and using my energy to motivate, inspire, and cheer for others. I have been a youth cheer coach and dance team choreographer and I participated in a dance team in college. I’ve … Continue reading Meet Kidney Donor Athlete, Shawni!
Before I decided to donate my spare, I played hockey 5 days a week, ran at least 1 half marathon a quarter, and played softball every Sunday. I have always been an athlete and I never wanted to change my lifestyle. October 2017, I saw a post in one of my Christian running groups on … Continue reading Meet Kidney Donor Athlete, Brandie!
I’m not a very superstitious person or one that really believes everything happens for a reason, but every once in a while it just feels like things are falling into the place they belong. One evening around Halloween in 2018, my husband and I were living with my brother and his girlfriend while our new … Continue reading Meet Kidney Donor Athlete, Ashlie!
Before my kidney donation, I was quite active. I was consistently running 2 to 3 miles per day and engaging in strength training, which has been a passion of mine since I was in college. I also participated in the BolderBoulder 10k every year. Actually, one of the things that I researched when I started … Continue reading Meet Kidney Donor Athlete, Jose!
I was overweight and lived an unhealthy lifestyle throughout most of my adult years. In 2013, after hearing that my sister, Mae, was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease, I decided it was time to make a change. Results from my first diet attempts were mixed, a series of trial and error while discovering what … Continue reading Meet Kidney Donor Athlete, Dennis!
It all began after a run. I often “ran” into my aunt and uncle because they lived above me in our Chicago apartment building, but this time I wasn’t greeted with a very happy, “hello”. Panting and gassed, I tried my best to gather the information they relayed to me. “Did you hear about Liz?” … Continue reading Meet Kidney Donor Athlete, Amy!
