My kidney disease began when I was born and had to have the left one taken out due to being nonfunctional. This was okay because people can live a normal, full life with just one kidney! However, I was experiencing bladder reflux and had to have ureteral reimplantation surgery at 2 months old then part of my bladder closed off at 2 years old in order for my remaining kidney to be able to filter the way it should.

Throughout my childhood, I was constantly in hospitals visiting doctors for my kidney issues and later on for vision and endocrine too. Once I became of age and moved out on my own, I decided that my adult life and career were more important than keeping up with my health.

Fast forward 29 years later to 2019 when I first met the love of my life who encouraged me (after 3 years of dating and 1 global pandemic later) to put my health before my busy job and get my butt to a primary care physician.

In July of 2022 I was admitted to the ER after receiving alarming lab results that told me I was officially in End Stage Renal Failure and didn't even know it. My only kidney was struggling at 5% function and my doctors were surprised I was able to stand, let alone able to operate for as long as I had in that condition. 

I had convinced myself that the fatigue, skin issues and tremors I had been experiencing over the past year were due to the daily wear and tear of work.

I underwent surgery to have a permacath placed in my heart to begin dialysis treatments 3 times a week for 3 hours at a time and after undergoing a couple more procedures, now have a very uncomfortable fistula (fusing of a vein to an artery) in my forearm for dialysis access.

The only options I have for survival are to continue with dialysis which is a short-term treatment and is not advised for someone my age to do long term, OR to receive a kidney transplant from either a deceased or living donor.

Although I am FORTUNAETLY listed on the transplant waiting list, there are currently over 100,000 people and counting waiting for an organ from a deceased donor which on average may last anywhere from 5-15 years (depending on the health of the organ). Whereas a kidney from a living donor has a much better chance of being accepted by the recipient's immune system and can last up to twice as long! Since I am 33, I will most likely need 2 transplants in my lifetime.

This has by far been the most exhausting and challenging journey of my lifetime and I would love the chance to live as much of a "normal" life as possible with the help of a gracious and generous living donor.

A healthy kidney would allow me to travel again without worrying about having to go to dialysis every other day. My wife and I could take the honeymoon we've been dreaming of since before this health crisis took over. We could hopefully add a human baby into our family of fur children and make memories together that seem so far away right now. I wouldn't have to spend as much time focusing on my fluid and dietary limitations as I do now as a guy in his thirties.

If you or someone you know are interested in becoming a living donor for me, please don't hesitate to reach out to get information on how to get started! There are an endless number of resources to help guide you in making a life changing and saving decision. Most can be found right on this website. If you have any questions whatsoever, please let me know!

Thank you for reading!

-Jason