DONOR | Althea's Story

Althea Mickens

LIVING Kidney DONOR NEEDED

I have been diagnosed Alport Syndrome it is hereditary in the women in my family it's been hard trying to deal with this disease I'm tired a lot of the time and just don't have any energy to do anything. Im raising my grandkids who need me. I really need a donor or to share my story. My grandkids are my world. My pain and struggles that I go through,my grandkids are what keeps me going and my faith stays stronger. I have seen this disease kill so many of my family members and also witness me losing 3 of my children from this terrible disease. I am praying that a donor can help change my life and give me a gifted, so I can be here for my grandkids.

I'm not on dialysis but my kidneys only working 20% so I've been placed on a transplant list knowing that I'm not eligible for a transplant until my kidneys function is below 20% so I just have to wait and see what happens. I encourage my friends and family that can help save my life and others. Some days are harder then others. Knowing my kidney can fail completely. I hold my faith and trust in God to keep my health strong. My grandkids are the driving force to keep me going. I know they need me because I'm all they have. I have witness this terrible disease take a few of my family members as while as taking 3 of my children. Being a donor or becoming a donor will help change my life and any other people lives. I'm praying someone shares my story or would donate a kidney to save my life.

Becoming a donor is an amazing gifted to give someone. Especially someone that is suffering from this terrible disease. Being a donor changes not just the person that needs the kidney but also their family members lives. It's a life changing experience for all members. I seen my family receive transplants and it change their lives completely. The joy and smile on their faces is a wonderful feeling. Knowing that they may live a normal life and be worried free is a blessing.

START YOUR JOURNEY

Become Althea Mickens's Donor

If you are considering being a living donor please use links below to contact Althea Mickens'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.