Alisa Griffin

LIVING Kidney DONOR NEEDED

My name is Alisa and I need a kidney.

Who I Am
I am a sister, aunt, niece and cousin. I am proud to have many people who me "friend." I am a proud alumna of Virginia State University. I've enjoyed a 30+ year career in the health insurance industry. Still too young to retire (lol). I know that God loves me and wouldn't give me more than I can handle. But the weight of it all is overwhelming.

My Interests
I am a 30 year member of the American Business Women's Association. What started as an organization on my resume quickly became my source of professional development and friendship. I have friends across the country and learned a lot that has helped me in my career. I love to travel and because of ABWA, I able to visit cities around the country for conferences and enjoyed two cruises with my ABWA sisters before my health declined.
I love to cook but now that takes energy that I don't always have. I like trying to new recipes and adding my special touch, meaning I don't follow the recipe, lol. I relax by watching the Food Network and HGTV.

What I Am Doing Now
I still work full time and give my time to ABWA. Different issues in conjunction with the kidney disease, dialysis, etc have slowed me down. It's been a tough road.

I was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease when my father had me tested while a teenager. This disease is hereditary from his family. The disease progresses with age so when I turned 50, it was downhill from there! Living with kidney disease hasn’t been easy. I chose the less invasive peritoneal dialysis which I do every night while I sleep. My morning routine has become a ritual of finishing dialysis, showering, that cup of coffee to wake me up and then head to my desk to start working. Thank God for “work-at-home.” There are doctor appointments, medications, etc. My blood pressure has plummeted which landed me in the hospital for 10 days. Still no cause for the low blood pressure. So another medication to raise it has been added to my regimen of daily pills. Some days I feel great and then there are those days when I can barely do anything. I still work full-time so I constantly push myself to keep going because giving up is not an option.

A kidney transplant would essentially restore my health and give me back the freedom that I miss and I pray help me live longer than I would without one. I know it comes with a whole new regimen of anti-rejection medications and more appointments but it beats having to depend on a machine to stay alive (literally). I will always have to take a medication, I can live with that.

I’m sharing my story with the prayer that someone would be willing to at least get tested and willing to donate a kidney. I know this is a big ask, I get it and it’s hard to ask anyone to give up an organ. We only need one kidney in order to live a full and healthy life. The survival chances of a kidney from a living donor far exceed one from a deceased donor. This may not be an option for you so I hope that you will share my story with others and thank you in advance for your support ❤️.
Full Name: Alisa L Griffin

Previous Next