04/27/2026
In 2006, Adam Christopher, LPN at CentraCare – Willmar Clinic Family Medicine, was a husband and the father of a toddler son, Jaden, when he faced a reality no parent expects or wants.
Their pediatrician in Willmar, Dr. Swanson, recognized something wasn’t right with Jaden and quickly referred him to specialists at the University of Minnesota. Testing soon revealed Jaden would eventually need a kidney transplant.
Adam didn’t hesitate. He underwent tests to see if he could be a donor match, and luckily, he was.
“I was super excited and honestly nervous to find out I was a match,” he shares. “But it was not even a question in my mind whether I would donate.”
Initially, doctors anticipated the procedure might not be needed until Jaden was around six years old. But at just four years old, Jaden’s condition suddenly worsened.
“At one appointment, his lab results had declined substantially,” Adam says. “His nephrologist told us, ‘We are doing this now.’ And within a couple days, we were both wheeled into the operating room.”
While the anticipation leading up to the transplant was nerve-wracking, fortunately, the transplant was a success. Adam remembers being surprised by how quickly he recovered, especially since his kidney was removed laparoscopically — a newer technique at the time.
For Jaden, the gift meant everything. Because Jaden has O-negative blood, finding a deceased donor match would likely have taken years. Without Adam’s donation, Jaden may have needed dialysis at a very young age, possibly requiring the family to relocate to access specialized pediatric care.
Instead, thanks to his dad, Jaden had a functioning kidney and was able to flourish throughout his childhood.
Years later, when Jaden was about 22, his journey took another turn. His kidney function began to decline again. After being admitted to St. Cloud Hospital, a dedicated care team helped Jaden transition to dialysis, and not long after, he was cleared for another transplant.
Despite the challenges associated with his blood type, the wait was short. In 2024, Jaden received a second kidney transplant, this time from a deceased donor whose family made the selfless decision to give the gift of life. Fortunately, the second transplant was as successful as the first, and today, Jason is thriving. He graduated from Ridgewater college just prior to his second transplant.
“That donor was a perfect match,” Adam says. “We are so thankful. Jaden is doing so well.”
In an unexpected but meaningful detail, Adam’s original donated kidney was left in place during the second transplant.
“The transplant nephrologist said it would continue to work together with the new one,” Adam explains. “That was incredible to hear.”
Jaden continues his care with CentraCare nephrologist Dr. Viral Vakil, whom Adam credits for his exceptional compassion and expertise.
“I seriously cannot speak highly enough about Dr. Vakil,” he says. “We are so fortunate to have such a caring provider in rural Minnesota.”
Not only was the family’s journey with organ donation deeply impactful to Adam as a parent, it also redirected his career.
Inspired by the compassionate care his family received from their medical and nursing teams, after retiring from his previous career, Adam pursued a second calling in healthcare. Today, he works as an LPN at CentraCare Family Medicine in Willmar.
Reflecting on his journey, Adam hopes his story encourages others to consider becoming organ donors — whether for someone they love or for someone they’ve never met.
“It is absolutely possible to donate to someone you do not know,” he says. “It is highly rewarding.”
You can register to become a donor here: https://www.lifesourcedonorregistry.org/
