MAX NEEDS A LIVING KIDNEY DONOR
About MAX
Max was diagnosed with IGA Nephropathy in April 2021; he was only 18 years old and still in high school. He went to the ER due to a persistent headache in the back of his neck and his blood pressure was very high, creatine was at 9, and BUN was at 65. Sadly, his kidney function was at just 5%. Max spent 3 days in the ICU and another 3 days in the hospital. That is when he had a kidney biopsy which confirmed his IGA diagnosis. Max was then informed that a transplant was his only option. In March of 2022, Max was cleared for transplant and put on the kidney transplant waiting list. He has been on peritoneal dialysis since July 2021.
we need to find a living donor
Max is young and has so much to live for. Dialysis is also not an optimal solution for patients like Max as it can lead to complications such as low blood pressure, infection, and even blood clots. Max needs a kidney transplant to live, and he is now active on the waiting list.
However, the transplant waiting list is roughly 3-5 years long and there are thousands of people on it, which means Max might wait a significant amount of time before a deceased donation is even possible. This means more time on dialysis, more time waiting, and less time improving and living fully for Max. Max’s medical team has informed us that there is a better alternative, living kidney donation.
who is eligible to donate?
Max is extremely lucky to have secured highly qualified medical help and support from the team at the University of Utah Health. He wants any interested persons to know that they will be in exceptional hands should they decide to step forward. UUH has shared the following as a pre-qualification list for donation:
- must be between the age of 18-69 years old.
- must be healthy and free of major health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, obesity (BMI of 37 or less).
- must be mentally and emotionally healthy.
You Can Help Save Max's Life!
Are You Interested In Donating?
If you are interested in being Max's living donor, please complete the short contact form below. A donor advocate will reach out to you within one business day to answer any questions you may have and will guide you through the next steps in the process.
Have Questions About donating?
Having questions is normal! We have a great resource available. Please complete the contact form below and a donor advocate named Laurie will reach out to you. Laurie is a living kidney donor who can answer any non-medical questions you may have, guide you through the process, and connect you to great resources. If you have medical questions, we can connect you with the right team member at the University of Utah Health.
No, but i want to help!
Thank you! The best way you can help is by following Max's Facebook page and sharing posts from his page as much as possible. The more shares we get, the more people we can reach, and the better chance we will have of finding Max's courageous donor.
PROCESS FOR STEPPING FORWARD AS A DONOR FOR MAX
Below are the simple steps you will take to move through the living donor process. Know that even thinking about being Max’s living kidney donor is a courageous step and we are grateful for you!
COMPLETE CONTACT FORM
Fill out the short contact form below and Laurie, a donor advocate, will reach out to you within 1 business day to set up a time to connect.
DISCUSSION
During your time with Laurie, you will get to ask questions and get answers from a living kidney donor. She will tell you more about the process, address non-medical concerns, and connect you to valuable resources.
COMPLETE BREEZE
Breeze is a health questionnaire that will be reviewed by Max's medical team to determine your eligibility for living donation and next steps.
Kidney Transplant Facts
Here are some things you may not know about kidney transplant and living donation. After considering the facts, you will see why living kidney donation is Max’s best option for healing and living a full life.
THE WAITING LIST IS LONG
There are over 100,000 people on the kidney transplant waiting list in the U.S. On average, most peopl will wait 3-5 years before getting a kidney from a deceased donor.
NEW NAME EVERY 9 MINUTES
Each day, 17 people die waiting for a life-saving organ transplant and a new name is added to the transplant waiting list every 9 minute
THERE'S A KIDNEY SHORTAGE
The shortage of kidneys for transplantation continues to be a public health crisis in the U.S.
LIVING DONORS HELP
5,700 living kidney donor surgeries occur annually in the U.S. and the vast majority of kidney donors know the person they donate to.
KIDNEYS ARE INCREDIBLE
When a person steps forward to donate a kidney, one is removed and the other grows and increases its function so the body can operate normally.
SPEEDY RECOVERY
Living kidney donors are often able to return to work within 2 weeks, and fully heal within 6-8 weeks.
From Max...
“I would be incredibly grateful for this amazing gift of life. This gift would give me the opportunity to live a full and vibrant life. I won’t take it for granted. I will treat my body with great care. I will take care of my new kidney. I would want them to know that I have been so sick and I won’t have to be sick anymore thanks to them.”
Questions & Answers
Unfortunately, most of Max’s family cannot donate for health reasons. In some cases, the best living donor is one who is not a family member, even when family members do step forward to donate.
While Max's insurance will provide coverage for the donor, the donor needs to have their own health insurance in the rare event an unknown health issues comes up for the donor.
While Max’s insurance covers all costs related to the donation (for Max and the donor), there are expenses like travel, meals, and lost wages that Max's family can legally reimburse you for. There are also additional resources available to ensure you are not paying for anything out of pocket. We can provide more information on those resources.
Living kidney donors are often able to return to work within 2 weeks, and fully heal within 6-8 weeks. After surgery, the donor’s remaining kidney will also grow in size and function, allowing them to live normal life with just one kidney.
Living kidney donors are often able to return to work within 2 weeks, and fully heal within 6-8 weeks. After surgery, the donor’s remaining kidney will also grow in size and function, allowing them to live normal life with just one kidney.
The ideal outcome is for Max is to find a living donor. He has already battled so much with his kidney disease that being on the kidney transplant waiting list for 3-5 years is simply not ideal. Long-term dialysis is also not ideal as it can lead to a variety of complications such as low blood pressure, injection site infection, and blood clots.
