Hae Young Kim

LIVING Kidney DONOR NEEDED

Hello! My name is Hae Young Kim. One of the most important thing in my life is my family. I love spending time with my family. Aside from family, I love to teach young students and volunteer. I have been teaching for the past 23 years and love to volunteer for the transplant community. I volunteer for Camp All Stars , it is a camp for kids with renal disease or kids who had a transplant. I also volunteer for Johns Hopkins Adult comprehensive transplant unit. I visit patients, share my story, encourage them, and encourage them to walk while they are inpatient recovering .
I was diagnosed with kidney failure at the age of 12. I was placed on peritoneal Dialysis at the age of 13. I received my first kidney transplant at the age of 16. Transplant was successful.
My transplanted Kidney began to fail in 2022. I was placed on the transplant wait list on December of 2022.

It has now been almost 3 years since I have been placed on the wait list for another kidney transplant. Since my kidney has started to fail, there has been many changes. First, I have to be very careful of my diet. I need to limit my intake of protein, sodium, and potassium. I can not eat many food that I once enjoyed for example, bake potato, pasta, steak and certain vegetables and fruits due to high content in potassium, sodium, and protein. I also need to limit my activities due to becoming very easily fatigue. I used to jog and participate in outdoor activities for example, hiking, 5K's , riding a bike, walking around parks/ neighborhood, and spending time with family and friends. It has become difficult to do these activities since my kidney has been failing.
Kidney disease also has impacted my work. I am a teacher, I teach very active and energetic kindergarten students. I noticed my energy level has decreased. It is has been a challenge to work with students. I need to rest and or sit down at times. I used to tutor students after school or participate in after school activities/ clubs however, due to becoming easily fatigue I am not able to participate in the after school activities. I am looking forward to the day when I can do these activities again.

Having another kidney transplant would mean the world to me. My first kidney transplant gave me the gift of life to finish high school, go to college, become a teacher, vacation with my family and friends, become an aunt to my beautiful niece and my adventurous nephew, experience new hobbies/ find new interests, go to grad school, volunteer and new learn things. Words can not express how truly grateful I am and how God has blessed me with this gift of life. This second kidney transplant would help me to continue to teach, spend time with my family and friends, enjoy dining with friends and families without restrictions, and hopefully enjoy the many outdoor activities! I would LOVE to continue to give back as I have been blessed so much by God.

I am currently on the wait list at Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Transplant Center. I am seeking a living donor as that would be the best chance I have! Please take time to share my story.

I ask for your prayers to find a living donor and that my health remains stable to receive a kidney transplant.

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