RANDY NEEDS A LIVING KIDNEY DONOR
Randy is a hardworking, family man who has given so much to others throughout his life. Now, we hope someone will step forward and choose to give back to him.
About Randy
Randy has struggled with health issues since he was just 17 years old. In 2020, it was discovered that UTIs and infections had led to Randy’s kidneys being permanently damaged. Randy was told to apply to get on the kidney transplant waiting list and started dialysis in 2022. He has been slowly improving over the past 5 months, but he will need a kidney transplant to fully heal.
we need to find a living donor
Unfortunately, the transplant wait list is roughly 3-5 years long and there are thousands of people on it, which means Randy would have to wait a significant amount of time before a deceased donation would be possible. Dialysis is also not an optimal solution as it can lead to complications such as low blood pressure, infection, and even blood clots.
Thankfully, there is another solution, living kidney donation. Randy’s medical team has asked that he share his story with those he knows in the hope that he might be able to find a courageous living kidney donor. This donor would not only save and extend Randy’s life, but also give the greatest gift to his wife, family, and friends.
who is eligible to donate?
Randy 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 Randy's Life!
DID YOU STEP FORWARD IN THE PAST?
If you are still interested in being Randy’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 resuming 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 Randy’s Instagram 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 Rich’s courageous donor.
PROCESS FOR STEPPING FORWARD AS A DONOR FOR RANDY
Below are the simple steps you will take to move through the living donor process. Know that even thinking about being Randy’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 Randy'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 Randy’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 Randy...
“I would be so grateful to have the energy to participate in the activities I enjoy and to watch my sons and grandchildren grow and be able to mentor and serve them. My wife, children, and grandchildren mean the world to me. If you are thinking about being my donor, thank you so much. I am usually the one helping others and it’s hard to accept help! I am grateful for you.”
Questions & Answers
Some family has stepped forward, but we still have not found a living donor match for Randy. 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 Randy'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 Randy’s insurance covers all costs related to the donation (for Randy and the donor), there are expenses like travel, meals, and lost wages that Randy and his 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 for Randy is to find a living donor. He has already battled so much with his kidney disease that being on the 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.
