Meet Kidney Donor Athlete, Molly! - Kidney Donor Athletes

Name: Molly

Location: Vermont

Donation date: May 2014

Age at donation: 22

Categories of exercise before donation: Running, Half Marathon, Yoga, Hiking, Weight Lifting

What was your activity level like before donation?

Before I donated my kidney, I was a fairly active person. I played rugby in high school and joined the military when I was 19, both of which kept me very fit.

Who did you donate to?

I was an altruistic donor. I originally set out to be a bone marrow donor. But I learned that most people don’t end up donating so I looked for another way I could help. I literally just started researching online and came across kidney donation. I requested an information packed from the University of Vermont and that started my journey. I’m not sure what first called me to find a way to help someone, I just know that I felt so strongly compelled.

How would you describe your recovery post-donation?

My recovery was very smooth. I healed quickly. The only (very minor) complication was my scars ended up being keloid scars. I ended up getting cosmetic surgery to fix them a few years after my donation, and the kidney foundation at UVM actually covered the cost.

Describe your journey back to fitness after recovering.
The journey back to fitness was smooth. I was able to return to fitness activities well within the timeframe my care team set out. It has now been 11 years and I am way more active than I was back then. I took up running (and became a running coach!) in the past few years. I have done countless 5ks, 10ks and half marathons. My first full marathon is May 2026 and I have my sights set on my first ultramarathon this fall. Alongside running, I am also a skydiver and skydiving coach! I started skydiving in 2017 and have just over 550 jumps.

Were there unexpected hurdles along the way?
There were no unexpected hurdles along the way. The only thing I had to deal with was the keloid scars, but that is just the way my body heals!

Do you feel different now than when you did pre-surgery?

Absolutely not! There is nothing about my life that feels different, and I am actually way MORE active than I was back then. I was fit in my 20’s, but now I am a runner who regularly runs races.

Do you take precautions now that you didn’t before?

None, other than not being able to take NSAIDs.

What advice would you give someone considering donating?

It was the most impactful decision I have ever made. If you’re considering donating, trust your heart, ask all your questions, and lean on the support offered. The fear is real, but so is the impact.

What were your fears before donating?

I definitely had some fears, but my team addressed each one. What if I needed a kidney someday? I’d be put at the top of the list. Could I really live with one kidney? Your remaining kidney picks up the slack. Would I be able to stay in the military? Yup! My team made sure all my concerns were addressed and I was 100% comfortable with moving forward.

Tell us anything else you’d like included in your submission!

After I donated my kidney, the hospital helped arrange for me to speak with my recipient. He is a grandfather across the country, out in California. He and his family had dreamed of taking a cruise to Alaska for years, but were unable to because of his dialysis. I cried when he told me they had bought their tickets as soon as he was recovered enough. It was amazing to know that I helped that family continue living their lives and do something the rest of us take for granted.

I was also part of a chain donation. My kidney completed the chain for 7 others to receive kidneys, as well. One of the recipients was actually here in Vermont and she reached out to me, as well. Knowing that my kidney (which I didn’t even need!!!), changed so many lives – the lives of the recipients AND their families – still brings me to tears to this day. I am so incredibly grateful to have had this opportunity and I truly hope my story helps others feel comfortable enough to do this, as well.

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