Mike's worsening condition requires that he receive a kidney transplant now.  And, the quickest way to receive a transplant is through the donation of a spare, non-vital living organ --- such as one of the two kidneys found in most of us. 

 

LIVING kidney donors save lives -- and there are Three Ways to Donate to Mike:

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#1.  Directed Donors:   Directed Donors are living kidney donors with Mike's compatible blood type (blood types O+ and O-) who are willing to name Mike as the person to receive their donated kidneys.

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#2.  Non-Directed Donors:  Donors who don't know their blood types or don't have compatible O+ or O- blood, can become Non-Directed Donors, who donate their kidneys to unknown recipients and then receive "vouchers" for family members OR non-family members to receive priority should they need transplants in the future.  In Mike's case, our hope is that the voucher someone receives for being a Non-Directed Donor is presented to Mike which would make him eligible for the next compatible kidney donation.  

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#3.  Paired Exchange Program:  This program allows an incompatible kidney donor-recipient pair (usually spouses or relatives) to swap kidneys with another incompatible pair to create a compatible match for both kidney recipients.  While this is also an option for Mike, we understand that the Paired Exchange is complex and takes longer to arrange -- time Mike simply doesn't have.    

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​​The good news is that the number of living kidney donors is increasing.  ​In 2023, nearly 6,300 living-donor kidney transplants were performed in the U.S.  

 

In fact, two members of our family have already chosen to Give the Gift of Life by donating kidneys to others.  These family members are now well into their 70s -- living without complications. 

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As I always say, "I truly believe that God has blessed us with two kidneys so that, when the time comes, we might bless someone else with the Gift of Life." 

  

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