DONOR | Dale's Story

Dale Vaughn

LIVING Kidney DONOR NEEDED

I love my family, friends, music, dogs & babies.

My name is Dale Vaughn. I was diagnosed with kidney failure six years ago and was recently advised that the disease has progressed to stage five, the top of the chart. I am now on dialysis to do the work of my kidneys. This treatment, which is three days a week for about 4 1/2 hours, is necessary to keep me alive while I wait for a kidney.

These treatments really zap my strength and energy. My wife has noticed that I have about three good hours a day and then it goes down hill from there. This keeps me from simple activities such as traveling, bike riding and walking, things I used to love to do.

My doctors have agreed that I will need a kidney transplant, and sooner rather than later. The longer I have to wait, the harder it is on my body as well as my spirit. The general donor list wait time can be 7-8 years in San Diego. That’s why we are encouraged to seek out donors on our own. I’m asking family and friends to put the word out for me to help me find possible willing donors. Thank you!

START YOUR JOURNEY

Become Dale Vaughn's Donor

If you are considering being a living donor please use links below to contact Dale Vaughn's Transplant Center. Begin by completing the donor questionnaire

Becoming a Kidney DONOR Find a Transplant Center near you

Scripps Health

10666 N Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037

(858) 554-4310 Email Transplant Center

Did you know?

Medical expenses for living organ donors are 100% covered, and inquires from potential donors are 100% confidential! Contact the Transplant Center to learn more about living donation.

More Donor FAQs

Share the Importance of Living Donation

There are currently 120,000 people waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant in the U.S. Of these, 100,000 await kidney transplants.

The median wait time for a kidney transplant is 3-5 years and can vary depending on health, compatibility, and where you live.

In 2014, 17,107 kidney transplants took place in the U.S. Of these, 11,570 came from deceased donors and 5,537 came from living donors.

Every 14 minutes someone is added to the kidney transplant waitlist.

A kidney from a living donor lasts longer and begins functioning more quickly than a kidney from a deceased donor.

In 1995, kidney donation became minimally invasive with a procedure called laparoscopic nephrectomy, which only requires four small incisions. Hospital stay is typically only 3 days after this operation.

Not blood type compatible with your recipient to be a living donor? Kidney Paired Donation (the “kidney swap” program) enables incompatible candidates with a living donor to receive a kidney from a compatible donor.

Last year, over 700 living donor kidney transplants occurred using Kidney Paired Donation.

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