DONOR | Eric's Story

Eric Fooks

LIVING Kidney DONOR NEEDED

I do not ask for pity; I ask for a chance

My name is Eric, and I was born with Medullary Sponge Kidney but wasn't properly diagnosed until 2020.

I have fought it off for the past 4 years until my kidneys finally caved in and now I'm on dialysis. I spent my 31st birthday hooked up to a machine just to survive. This shouldn't be the life of anyone, especially someone who is still young.

A transplant to me would mean the revival of a semi-normal life again. It would mean I wouldn't have to be restricted with what I can do for my job. It would mean spending more time with family and friends without feeling like a burden.

Any help, no matter how tiny, would raise my spirit and morale. I'm not sure how long I'll have to wait for a transplant, but I have hope. There are times where I feel like a failure and I would like to give up, but I have too much to do and many loved ones to celebrate with.

START YOUR JOURNEY

Become Eric Fooks's Donor

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

Fill Out DONOR Questionnaire
(INQUIRES ARE 100% CONFIDENTIAL)

Becoming a Kidney DONOR Find a Transplant Center near you

Johns Hopkins Hospital

1800 Orleans St, Baltimore, MD, 21287

(410) 614-9345 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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