Daniella Duke

LIVING Kidney DONOR NEEDED

"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" —Mary Oliver

I am forever grateful for the two transplants that have kept me alive the past 26 years. .

These transplants have given me 26 years of life that I might not otherwise have had, and I am profoundly appreciative for these gifts of life. Wherever this new journey leads me, I hope for the chance to keep living the ordinary life that means so much to me—time with my family and friends, staying active, being creative, and simply being able to enjoy the small, everyday moments that make life special.

Right now, I am on dialysis. It has been much harder, both physically and emotionally, than I imagined. It often leaves me feeling sick, weak, and exhausted. It is keeping me alive, but sometimes it feels as though so much of life revolves around simply making it to the next treatment and hoping it goes well—without a bad needle stick, complication, infection, or machine problem.

Dialysis has definitely given me a deeper and more powerful understanding of gratitude. It has shown me how much I want to live just a little bit longer to spend time my kids, husband, family and friends.

I have been approved for a third transplant. The average wait time for a deceased-donor kidney in my area is more than 5 years. My own experience has shown me just how much a transplant can change a life. Living-donor kidneys often last longer and function better than kidneys from deceased donors, which is why finding a living donor would give me the best chance of getting off of dialysis, regaining my health, and staying active. Most people are born with two kidneys and can live a healthy life with one, which is what makes living kidney donation possible.

Several family member and friends have offered to be donors, but so far none have been able to donate. I am incredibly grateful to every one of them for trying.

Deciding to be a living kidney donor is a big decision. I would never pretend otherwise or expect someone to make that decision lightly. To me, there is something extraordinary about one person being willing to help another in such a profound way. I know firsthand what that generosity can mean—not just to the person receiving the kidney, but to an entire family.

Thank you for reading my story and for even considering either being a living kidney donor or sharing my story.

FAQs:
1. How does a donor know if they are a match? – Daniella is AB blood type, which accepts all other blood types. Further testing is done, but most likely, everyone is a match.

2. Cost to the donor: All the costs of a donor's medical expenses are paid for by the recipient’s insurance, or by the medical center. The donor qualifies also for paid medical leave from work while recovering. So the donor has no costs

3. Is there an age cut-off? – The donor must be over 18 years old, but otherwise, there are not age restrictions. A donor’s ability to donate is based on a medical evaluation. People into their 70s can donate a kidney. It is all about the health of the potential living donor.

4. Does donating shorten your lifespan? - Donors tend to live a longer life because they tend to take much better care of themselves post-donation and hence have a better quality of life.

5. What is the process if someone is interested in being a donor? - First, contact Yale either by calling them or click on the contact transplant center link to fill out a form online. Next, Yale will call you back and set up an initial telephone interview. Then, you will have some initial testing, which can be done locally. If all goes well, you will be asked to set up an in-person one day of testing and evaluations at the Yale Transplant Center in New Haven. Then, all the information is reviewed by the Transplant Board.

6. Link to more FAQs: https://www.kidneyregistry.com/for-donors/i-want-to-learn-more-about-living-kidney-donation/kidney-donation-facts/

Websites like the ones below can other questions you might have about being a living kidney donor:

https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/becoming-living-donor

https://www.nkdo.org/faqs/

If you think you may want to be my donor, or just want to find out more information about being a living donor, call my Transplant Center: Yale Transplant Living Donor Line: 866-925-3897

Previous Next