About Rich
Rich has been living with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) for many years. There are cysts growing around his kidney that essentially choke off the ability for his kidney to function. He first learned of this disease when his mother had to have a kidney transplant many years ago due to the same disease. Subsequently, he learned that this is an inherited disease and that his brother, sister, and their kids are also very likely to develop it as well. As Rich’s kidney functions slowly erode, a transplant or lifelong dialysis are the only options to extend his life.
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 Rich 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. Rich’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 Rich’s life, but also give the greatest gift to his wife, family, and friends.
who is eligible to donate?
Rich 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 Rich's Life!
Are You Interested In Donating?
If you are interested in being Rich’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 Rich’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 Rich’s courageous donor.
PROCESS FOR STEPPING FORWARD AS A DONOR FOR RICH
Below are the simple steps you will take to move through the living donor process. Know that even thinking about being Rich’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 Rich'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 Rich’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 Rich...
“It feels very awkward to ask someone to do something of this magnitude on my behalf. Its difficult for me to feel worthy of such an incredible gesture. Know that I am grateful beyond words! For me, being outdoors and traveling are huge passions. There are many parts of the country that I really want to visit that I only got to see while I was working. I love museums, street fairs, farmer’s markets, etc. I’m a big music fan and I haven’t been able to attend a concert since COVID, more due to kidney concerns than actual COVID concerns. A kidney transplant would truly change my life.”
Questions & Answers
The disease Rich has is inherited and therefore his immediate family is unable to donate. Rich’s family is originally from Argentina. Only his immediate family and some estranged cousins live in the US. 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 Rich'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 Rich’s insurance covers all costs related to the donation (for Rich and the donor), there are expenses like travel, meals, and lost wages that Rich 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 Rich is to find a living donor. He has already battled so much with his polycystic kidney disease (PCKD) that being on the kidney transplant waiting list for 3-5 years is simply not ideal. To date, he has not needed dialysis. 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.
