Built on trust: how a post led me to my kidney recipient

It was an ordinary day - just like so many before it. Work. Endless emails. Managing a household. Raising three kids. The hundreds of small necessary tasks that need to be tackled each day. My mind raced as the memory of the kidney donation application resurfaced.

The day prior, I had shared my desire to do a living kidney donation with my family. It’s not an everyday conversation where you tell your kids and husband, “So, I’ve been thinking. Thinking I’m hoping to donate an organ.” With uncertainty, I was not sure how they would take this news. But when I reflect back on these conversations, why would I have expected anything less from those who know me best. Having tried to instill characteristics in my children of compassion and having a heart for others, their responses solidified their kind hearts. My oldest didn't hesitate, “Of course mom, this is totally something you would do! That’s cool - you should do it.” To my middle child’s confidence, “I’m not surprised at all. Of course you should do it if it helps somebody.” To my youngest and her forward thinking, “Can I do this someday, too?” And in my husband’s typical fashion, his humorous response, “You really need a hobby!” Yet in his loving way, “You are always looking for the next thing to help someone. I mean this sounds kinda crazy, but of course if this is what you want, I’ll support you.” 

In my conversations with them, I explained I was going into this with faith and trust. Trusting that if it was meant to be, it would be. If it wasn't, then it wouldn't. Trusting that if God wanted me to do this, He would open the door and behind that door would be a person in need. I explained how if it was me, wouldn’t they want someone to come forward so I could watch them graduate, become adults, get married, have babies and experience the fullness of life’s joys. Ultimately, the most meaningful gifts we are given in life besides life itself, is being in connection to others. If I could afford another person those abilities, how could I hesitate?

So on this day, as life carried on in all its busyness, my mind kept drifting back to the kidney application I filled out the day prior and my thoughts raced, ‘Okay God, I’m listening and I’m moving. But, what now? What happens from here?’ 

Because I’m not one to sit idle and filled with a curious spirit, I posted anonymously in a local moms' Facebook group. We're blessed to live in a community filled with doctors, nurses and medical professionals. My hope was to build on some knowledge from experts in this realm. I shared I was considering donation and asked if anyone had insight or connections. I also added, "Is local matching even a thing?? I know my family/friends would be more accepting if it was someone from MN region and 'tangible' verses an unknown person in a registry." This led to fabulous connections and provided me with a wealth of valuable information. But one comment made my heart start racing, “If you’re interested,” it read, “I know a local dad in need.”

That afternoon on October 22, 2025, 1 day after making this decision to donate, I reached out to 'the local dad'. And as God has a way of doing things, he often uses a sense of humor as he knows our hearts. He had been laying the groundwork for this for sometime and knitting small mundane details together. "O Lord, you have searched me and know me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. Psalm 139:1-2.  So when we came to this point in time, He was like, "Ahh, ha. You asked, so here you go!" Over the last day I had been praying for God to reveal the right person and situation and make this decision clear. Maybe someone who is around my age. Hopefully someone from MN. Maybe someone with kids. Someone who is married.

I send off a message to 'the local dad' and what comes back instantly solidifies everything. We are similar age. He's a husband. A dad to two kids. Our son's are seniors at the same high school. My middle child had class with his son last year. His daughter is at KU and we were just looking at planning a college tour for my high school Jr there. He tells me they live in a neighboring city and open enrolled to our school district. I write back saying, “Oh wow. I did the same thing” and identified the 2 cross streets I lived on for 13 years. He writes back. He provides the cross streets where they live - 1 street over. Our backyards were a few houses apart. And it suddenly all made sense. All of it! The same God who designed the stars and the depths of the ocean is still at work molding our lives down to the precise details. God was reassuring me that he goes before us and trusting Him is all we need. "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:8

October 30, 2025 over a table and some coffee, I met my intended recipient. He is kind. He is gentle. He is deserving of a full life. In that moment, I was reminded that this journey is not mine alone. I continue to pray and trust that God has already gone before us and holds every step of this journey in His hands. 

With a trusting heart, 

Katie

"In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." Proverbs 16:9