I was diagnosed with beginning kidney failure in 1994. My GP saw an unusual amount of protein in my urine in a routine urinalysis and sent me to a nephrologist. He did a biopsy and diagnosed me with FSG (focal glomerulitis sclerosis). At that point, I was at 35% kidney
Tagged as: Kidney Transplant
New kidney from life-long friend transforms V.C.’s life
KOKOMO, Ind. —When Todd Gambill welcomes new students to Indiana University Kokomo each semester, he tells them the friends they make in college are likely to become an integral part of the rest of their lives. He knows this all too well after his college roommate recently gave him a new
12th Annual Summit for Life Michael Wells Inspirational Award Recipient
Every year the Chris Klug Foundation Nominates a lucky recipient of the Michael Wells Inspirational Award. The award’s namesake is our friend Michael, a liver recipient who has hiked Aspen Mountain for Summit for Life almost every year since the beginning! As an on-going tradition for the eighth year, we are
The gift their loved one bestowed upon me will not be wasted
I woke up with an extraordinary feeling I had not experienced in almost a decade. Not the grogginess and pain that I had experienced more times than I care to remember. No, this was the feeling of hope. The first words out of my mouth when I saw the nurse
Making the Most of a Second Chance
I have been called a hero for being a living donor to my brother Jim. The true hero is Jim, who has made the most of his new kidney and has made a difference in many lives for over 34 years since the kidney transplant. Since then, Jim has promoted
I Hope To Encourage The Latino And Black Communities To Become Organ Donors
My journey to my kidney transplant started at the age of 16. When I was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease stage 3. Tried different treatments to slow down the damage. At 20, I was told I needed dialysis soon so I had my fistula placed in my left forearm. At
Brady and Belichick are NOT Organ Donors
While a freshman in high school I was diagnosed with Polycystic kidney Disease. By my early 30s each kidney had grown to the size of footballs creating a distended abdomen. With all my internal organs pushed and squeezed I began to get sicker feeling like morning sickness. I was vomiting
He Is My Miracle Baby And I Will Tell Anybody That
My son Joshua turned 6 years old in May against all odds. He is my miracle baby and I will tell anybody that. When I was pregnant with him and I went to find out the sex of my baby, I was told that one of his kidneys was slightly
Merrill Miracle
This is my family, The Merrill family. This is how I decided to be a living organ donor. This is our story of miracles. When I was four years old my Dad, Vance Merrill, went through his first living donor kidney transplant! A few years prior to needing a kidney
The Meaning Of Life
There is a big difference between being alive and living. Fifteen years ago, I was alive but didn’t know how long I would live or if I’d ever be able to get back to living a normal life. At the time, I was 19 years old and had spent almost