02/08/2025
Dear Family & Friends and Friends of Family & Friends,
As many of you know, I recently completed kidney transplant evaluations at KU Medical Center in Kansas City and Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Both transplant centers found me to be a very good candidate for transplant, as I am active and healthy outside of my kidney problems. I am listed as Active on the UNOS transplant list for a deceased donor and have decided to pursue the living donor process at Barnes Jewish. Barnes Jewish is a fantastic hospital that does more transplants than any other center in the Midwest and has very strong success rates.
You might ask why am I in this situation. At the age of 5, I contracted a virus known as Henoch Schonlein Purpura, which caused kidney damage. Once the disease ran its course, I was left with diminished kidney function, which I have lived with my entire life. The diminished function has not been noticeable to me until recent years. I received great care as a child at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri and have been followed closely as an adult patient at MU Health in Columbia, Missouri. In the Spring of this year, my Nephrologist at MU advised that the kidney function is weak enough that we needed to start this process.
I am very uncomfortable asking for help, particularly in such a public way; however, identifying a compatible living donor is challenging and takes a considerable amount of time. Time is of the essence for me, as it is my goal to find a living donor prior to the need to start dialysis so I can continue to be active and productive in my life. The number of people waiting for a deceased donor transplant is significantly higher than the number of kidneys available. In the United States there are less than 16,000 kidneys available annually from deceased donors for 95,000 people on the wait list. Most people wait 3-5 years for a deceased donor kidney. Living donor transplants tend to happen sooner and have better outcomes with minimal risks to the donors. A living donor organ usually lasts much longer than transplants from a deceased donor.
Asking family members and friends to consider donating a kidney is difficult, however my doctors have communicated that making a public request greatly improves my chances of finding a living donor match.
A few facts about the living donor process:
Most donor surgeries are done laparoscopically, with a very short recovery period-typically an overnight stay in the hospital.
My insurance covers all donor evaluation, testing and surgical expenses.
The process is completely confidential, unless you choose to share your name with me.
This is a very useful link to Barnes Jewish Hospital living donor program, if you have questions, or you can certainly reach out to me, personally: https://www.barnesjewish.org/Medical-Services/Transplant/Kidney-Transplant/How-To-Become-A-Living-Kidney-Donor
I realize donating a kidney is a very intimidating process to consider and myself and my family deeply appreciate any thought or consideration you may give to being a living donor. I appreciate your time reading this letter. If you have more specific questions and are interested in pursuing the living donor process on my behalf, the living donor transplant phone number at Barnes Jewish is (314) 362-5365, option 4. Or, of course you can reach out to me.
Thank you again,
Kelly
Considering kidney donation? Our comprehensive living donor kidney team provides expert care and support to kidney donors throughout the donation process.
