LIVING DONORS MAKE MIRACLES HAPPEN
WHO AM I?
My name is Samantha and I am in search of a living kidney donor. I grew up in the woods of Southern Kentucky with my parents, a truly topnotch sister and a loyal canine companion named Keesh. Although we had electricity, we drew water from a hand pump and heated our house with a wood burning stove. We would spend hot days swimming in Lake Cumberland and loved to hike all over in the Daniel Boone National Forest. I am now married with a grown daughter of my own. I enjoyed working as a Corporate Accountant for many years.
WHAT I LOVE TO DO
I love spending time with my family which includes two goofball dogs. We enjoy all kinds of creative activities together, like painting, as well as getting together for barbeques and going on mini trips. I also enjoy being involved with my church: I taught a Sunday school class for many years and most recently have worked with the church youth. My husband and I went on a mission trip with the youth providing meals while they worked. I love to make personalized greeting cards for those who really need to know someone is thinking of them.
WHAT HAPPENED TO ME
I’ve lived a truly blessed life, but not without some challenges; the biggest being that I developed type 1 Diabetes as a very young child. Dealing with diabetes is something I’ve dealt with practically my whole life. About 25 years ago, diabetes caused my kidneys to fail, and I had a kidney transplant. That allowed me to do all those things that make life so fulfilling; like work, have a family and spend time with friends. That kidney was such a blessing, but it is no longer working, and I am in need of a new one. I’m currently on dialysis 3 days a week and while I consider dialysis to be another blessing as it keeps my blood clean and allows me to function, the process is not a one-to-one replacement for normal kidney function, and it is not sustainable long term.
HOW A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT WILL AFFECT MY LIFE
A kidney transplant will restore my quality of life, allow me to live freely and stop dialysis. When I get my transplant, I would love to go back to work, take walks with my dogs, be more involved at church and help those who have had a difficult life. I look forward to vacationing with my daughter and her husband.
Why I Need a Kidney
KIDNEY DONATION BASICS
You don’t have to be an exact match. If it is in your heart to help, please consider it, talk with your family and click below to begin this journey with me. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for even just considering this opportunity. May God bless you and yours.
A matching kidney would be ideal. However, a direct match is not necessary. A kidney may be donated on my behalf through the National Kidney Registry (NKR) to help another person in need but who also has an incompatible donor. I would receive a compatible kidney from a donor donating on behalf of an incompatible recipient and that recipient would then receive a kidney from a different unmatched donor-recipient pair.
The NKR would issue a voucher to me which is like an IOU for a kidney. The NKR employs data from across the U.S. to match donors with compatible recipients. That increases the number of transplants performed each year and makes for the best patient outcomes.
A donor who donates a kidney on my behalf would have the costs of hospital and medical bills covered. Donor Shield Protections (including lost wages, lodging, and more) available only through NKR may also be available.
HOW TO HELP ME
I’m not the type of person to ask for things for myself. Asking for something as massive as a kidney really goes against my grain. Due to the large number of antibodies in my system, a living donor is my only option. I'm not asking for the Big Ask for you to give me your kidney. I'm just asking for the Small Ask for you to share my story. By considering this opportunity and sharing my story, my story will get enough views so that someone will come forward to be my living donor.
You can help me by sharing my story and my website via social media and email. Just by sharing my story, you will help save my life. Anyone interested in finding out more information confidentially without any obligation can click on the button “Looking to donate for Samantha?” A knowledgeable person will be in touch with them.
WHERE TO DONATE
Donors can be anywhere. Almost 100 outstanding transplant centers participate in the NKR network. Donors usually can donate at any NKR-affiliated transplant center near them or at the University of Cincinnati Transplant Center, Ohio, where I am registered and approved for transplant. I am just waiting for a donor.
How You Can Help
By sharing my story to your group of family and friends, you help to increase the number of people who may consider kidney donation.
You can also support me and other patients in need of a transplant by being screened to become a kidney donor with the NKR. The process is easy to complete and potential donors have access to the NKR’s nationwide donor support network.
Support & Protections Available to Donors through the National Kidney Registry
- Cost Reimbursement
travel & lodging, lost wages, dependent care
- Kidney Prioritization
in the unlikely event you ever need a kidney
- Voucher Donation
the future of paired exchange
- Remote Donation
avoid air travel for donor evaluation & surgery
- Best Match
maximize the impact of your donation
- Legal Support
fighting termination & discrimination
- Complication Protection
reimbursement for complications costs
- Reduce Wasted Time
streamlined donation process
- Home Blood Draws
eliminate trips to the transplant center
- Help Other Donors
give feedback to improve the process
