My road to kidney donation started a long time ago, back in 2000 actually. At that time, I was in college and got a job working as a dialysis technician at an outpatient clinic. I have two aunts who were dialysis nurses, and one encouraged me to apply and work with her. At the time, … Continue reading Meet Kidney Donor Athlete, Ann Marie!
Benefits of being a donor: the goodness of humanity. January 2, 2019…...the day my life changed forever. All I had to do was lose 5.5 ounces. True, my surgeon had to go in and extract my left kidney, but my experience has been so impactful and transformative I’d happily relinquish a … Continue reading Benefits of Being a Donor – Bobby
My brother was diagnosed with ANCA Vaculitus in 2018 about a month before I was getting married in Boise, ID. I think that date will stick in all of our heads forever. I'll always remember not only feeling helpless after all my brother was 2,000+ miles away in Maryland but also pretty devastated that he couldn't be there for my wedding … Continue reading Meet Kidney Donor Athlete, Hannah!
Well, it has been an interesting year but my solo kidney is doing very well (and so is my socially distant kidney). My last KDA update was in my 6 week recovery period post-donation surgery. I was doing well and excited to get back to training after 6 months off the mat thanks to my … Continue reading Another Update from Kidney Donor Athlete, Varla!
The story of how someone out there is walking around with a slightly used part of me starts back in 2011. I was driving home from work, listening to This American Life. The title/theme of that show was the “Ten Commandments.” That’s when I first heard Chaya Lipschutz’s story. I had been searching for something … Continue reading Meet Kidney Donor Athlete, Sophia!
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!
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!
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!
What brings me here are the three most important things I’ve done in my life: I married Amy, a sweet, honest, curious, clever and adorable woman, who has lived with type 1 diabetes for a long time. We adopted Holly, the funniest human being I have ever known when she was 3 months old. She’s … Continue reading Meet Kidney Donor Athlete, Jason!
My name is Shayna, and I’m a powerlifter turned 1-kidneyed CrossFitter! My journey to donation started when my 24-year old brother-in-law became sick several winters prior. After a month of testing and hospitalizations, he was put on dialysis and added to the transplant list after learning his kidneys had completely shut down from an unknown … Continue reading Meet Kidney Donor Athlete, Shayna!
