A future and a hope



100,000 people

3-5 years

9 minutes

16 a day 

These are the staggering facts that solidified the conviction of the heart. It was the moment the heart and mind became in unison on this journey. Over 100,000 people are on the wait list to receive a kidney donation. On average, people have to wait 3-5 years for a deceased donor. It can range upwards to 10 years for those with rare blood types. Every 9 minutes a new person is added to the kidney transplant waitlist. And the saddest fact of all, 16 people die daily waiting for a donation. Tragically, many others die daily that are not included in this number as they became too ill to stay on the transplant list. These are moms, dads, brothers, sisters, friends all with real lives, real stories, real families and all with a dream of having a future and a hope. 

This data and the fact that a living donation is the quickest path and offers the best long term outcome for the recipient, is why my mind became fully committed. I was willing to engage in this process if it could make even a small impact on these numbers.

To become a living donor, the process involves rigorous screenings to get an in-depth look at your total health. This includes medical, psychological, and financial evaluations. Once all evaluations are completed, a transplant board reviews your case to determine if they recommend donation or not. The surgery is minimally invasive, a short hospital stay and the recovery taking up to 6 weeks to return to full pre-donation activity levels. 

The completely miraculous design of our human body has become all the more mind-blowing as I learn more about how intricately designed we are. "You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body, and knit me together in my mother's womb" Psalms 139:13 The two most common living organ donations are the kidney and liver. The fact that the body can adapt and compensate going from two kidneys to one is hard to comprehend. That my living organ can be moved to someone else's body and thrive, is humbling. In a living liver donation, a portion of the liver is donated and both the donated and remaining liver regenerate to full size over time. I cannot grasp how the body knows when it's reached the desired size and says, "Okay, I'm ready to stop growing now." That is hard to fathom! 

Early on in this process, I realized one of the harder things is going to be my need for patience. People who know me well, know I am often not the most lax of people and when I make up my mind, there is no delay and I get right to it. I quickly learned I am going to be refining my character through this process as it is all outside of my control and timing. 

October 21, 2025, I began the process with the National Kidney Registry. I quickly passed the basic requirements, medical history and was onward to a lab appointment which I scheduled for the next day. Not knowing what would be next, how long I'd have to wait to work through these steps and with a goal in mind of donating in the spring, so as I usually do, I got to work. I reached out to numerous people and places to gather as much information as I could and through that process, God was at work. Just as He does, He goes ahead of us and was laying the groundwork to uncover a scenario that would get my attention and solidify that I was walking in faith and trusting that God would use me to provide a future and a hope for at least one person and one family. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 There will be more to come on that. 

Humbled and in awe, 

Katie

 

*My first of what will be many tests and labs

At any point in this process, despite all of my desire to donate, my ability to do so might end. I might not be a good candidate, they might uncover a hidden health concern... and as much as I'm trusting that won't happen, my secondary goal is to bring light to this realm and encourage others to consider living donation. If you are feeling 'the nudge' or want more information:

National Kidney Registry - www.kidney.org

Mayo Clinic - https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/living-donor-transplantation/overview/ovc-20545462

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