When someone is diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease and needs a living-donor kidney transplant, family members are often the first to be evaluated. Spouses, siblings, or cousins are typically the ones that patients feel most comfortable sharing their story with at first.
In some cases, living-donor kidney transplant would not be possible without the generosity of others, including friends or even complete strangers.
What is a Living-Donor Kidney Exchange?
A living-donor kidney exchange begins with a patient who is diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease and has identified a potential living donor, but they are not a suitable match. If that incompatible living donor agrees to take part in an exchange, doctors will “swap” recipients with another living donor. This allows both patients to receive a kidney transplant from a compatible living donor.
In the stories that follow, all living donors agreed to remain on the living-kidney donor list. Not only did they help their family members and loved ones receive a kidney transplant, but they also helped others receive a second chance at life.
Living-Donor Kidney Recipients
Elliana
Elliana pictured above with her family.
Elliana, now three years old, was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome (NPHS1) at birth, a genetic kidney disease found in young infants. Just one month after she was born, her stomach began to enlarge, and she had trouble keeping her food down.
“As a new mom, it was scary,” said Alana, Elliana’s mom. “Seeing her like that just broke my heart.”
Elliana and her family were referred to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh for further evaluation. After doctors told Alana and her husband that Elliana needed a kidney transplant, he jumped at the chance to be his daughter’s living donor. After going through the kidney transplant evaluation process, he was compatible. A few days before surgery, Alana received a phone call from a friend saying that they had been diagnosed with COVID-19 and may have exposed Alana and her husband. Because of the couples’ potential exposure, Elliana’s dad was not able to donate as scheduled. To prevent Elliana from waiting for her transplant, a living-donor kidney exchange was coordinated.
Jason
Jason received a double lung transplant at UPMC in November 2011. Therefore, when the time came for him to begin his kidney transplant evaluation, he said it was a “no-brainer” to choose UPMC for his care.
Jason was diagnosed with kidney failure in October 2020. After his diagnosis, he was added to the kidney transplant waiting list and started dialysis in January 2021. Jason and his wife, Megan, traveled from Richmond, Va., to Pittsburgh to see if she was compatible with her husband. Megan was a good match for Jason; however, doctors found someone who was even more compatible with him and recommended a kidney exchange.
“We both looked at each other and thought ‘why wouldn’t we do that?’” said Megan.
Jon
In May 2020, Jon was diagnosed with pauci-immune, a form of vasculitis that usually forms in the kidney and causes it to shut down. After sharing his need for a living-donor kidney transplant, Jon turned to his family for help.
“I have a sister, brother, and two brothers-in-law who volunteered their kidneys on my behalf and went through the testing process,” said Jon. “I really appreciate them and their willingness to help me.”
Living-Kidney Donors
Dylan
Dylan pictured above.
Dylan has an uncle who was diagnosed with kidney disease and needed a living-donor kidney transplant. Without knowing much about living donation, Dylan decided to be evaluated to be his uncle’s living donor.
“He helped me so much getting a job coming out of high school and I felt I wanted to give back,” said Dylan.
After his evaluation, doctors at UPMC told Dylan that they found someone who was more compatible with his uncle. However, in order for his uncle to receive a kidney transplant with the more compatible living donor, he would likely need to remain on the living-kidney donor list and donate one of his kidneys to someone else.
“I didn’t know much about living donation at the time, but I wanted to do whatever it took to help my uncle,” said Dylan.
Aimee
Aimee has a family history of polycystic kidney disease (PKD). So, when her father’s PKD started to take a toll on his body to the point where doctors told him he would need a kidney transplant, she knew she wanted to help.
“With my father being 71 years old, I knew I had to act fast,” said Aimee.
Aimee traveled to UPMC Hamot to see if she was compatible with her father; however, doctors told her that she was not the best match for him. They also told her that she was compatible with someone else on the transplant waiting list if she still wanted to donate.
“I could’ve backed out at that point because someone else had been found for my father,” said Aimee. “But there’s no way I was going to do that. I wanted to still give back.”
Megan
Megan was ecstatic to find out that she was a match for Jason. After she learned that there was a more compatible match for her husband, she decided to remain on the living-kidney donor list so she could help someone else who needed a kidney transplant.
“Just because I wasn’t going to donate directly to Jason didn’t make it any less important,” said Megan.
The Result: A Domino of Giving
Not only did these donors go through the living-donor kidney transplant evaluation process to help their family members and loved ones, they remained on the living-kidney donor list to help people whom they’ve never even met.
Elliana
Elliana received a kidney transplant in May 2021 from a living donor, and Alana and her family express their gratitude for her donor.
“I would love to meet the person or write a letter to whoever donated to my daughter. I just want to tell them how much that meant to us and how grateful we are,” said Alana.
“I’m so appreciative to see this generous side of life because it opens your eyes to how kind and thoughtful people can be. The generosity of these people just warms my heart.”
Jason
Because of Megan’s decision to stay on the living-kidney donor list, Jason received a living-donor kidney transplant and is doing great in his recovery.
“The transplant process at UPMC was like a well-oiled machine. It was amazing,” said Jason. “Looking back, it’s awesome that we were able to help other people in the process. There are no words to describe the appreciation I have for the donor.”
Jason and Megan celebrated his recovery this summer by taking a vacation to the Florida Keys.
Jon
Jon received a living-donor kidney transplant in May 2021 because his brother decided to remain on the living-donor kidney list.
“His willingness to volunteer and enter the kidney donation program allowed me this opportunity for normalcy. Essentially, he extended my life with his actions. He truly is the epitome of selflessness,” said Jon.
Dylan’s Uncle
Dylan’s uncle received his living-donor kidney transplant in May 2021. Dylan’s decision to remain on the living-kidney donor list gave his uncle his life back while not interfering much with his own.
“I was only off work for about seven weeks, and I am already back to running and golfing,” said Dylan.
“My uncle has three kids, so he still has a lot of life to live thanks to everyone.”
Aimee
Aimee helped her father receive his living-donor kidney transplant by generously opting to stay on the living-kidney donor list.
“Even though I didn’t donate directly to my father, he was able to be transplanted because of living donation, and I know the family I helped feels the same way,” said Aimee.
“Somebody selflessly gave to him, so I wanted to do the same.”
For more information on living-donor kidney transplant, visit our website.
These patients’ treatment and results may not be representative of other cases.