I received a heart transplant due to cardiomyopathy in August 1986. Back then the procedure and medicines were still largely considered experimental. So thirteen years later, in January 2000, I received a second heart transplant along with a kidney. The immuno-suppressive drugs had damaged my kidneys. They’ve changed the medications to be less toxic these days, lessons learned from trail blazers like me.
I have three grown children and a good life, all thanks to my donors. I’ve been a recipient for 24 years (half my life) and prospects are good I’ll see an almost normal life span. All because of families who turned tragedy into blessings by donating their lost loved one. With almost a quarter century under my belt I can safely say, transplants work!
Sadly, my fiancée recently died from complications with her Lupus and peritoneal dialysis. She/we waited 6 1/2 years for a kidney that never came. That’s shameful. If just one living donor makes an altruistic kidney donation to a stranger, it can lead to a cascade of donations allowing for multiple kidney transplants to take place, thus removing several patients from the waiting list.
Furthermore, just one organ and tissue donor can save and enhance more than 25 lives. Please register as an organ/eye & tissue donor today!
-Karl R.
Chicago, IL
Hello everyone,
I want to donate a kidney to someone in need. I reside in Illinos, I’m a college student and have had this idea on my mind for quite sometime now,respond if interested. Thank you Giselle
Hi Giselle,
Take a look at our previous post on living donation: http://donatelifeillinoisblog.com/2010/05/10/questions-about-living-donation/ That’s a good place to start and should answer any questions you may have. Plus, we share multiple resources to help you start the donation process. If you have additional questions, just let us know. We appreciate your decision to donate!
-Nick