Support Josh and John in This Lifesaving Kidney Transplant

My name is Shari Deranja, & I am Josh Modglin's life partner of 13+ years & cheerleader in life. Josh, lovingly called (J), heroically stepped up to become a non-directed living kidney donor for recipient, John Morgan. I am honored to have been by his side to watch the kidney donation process firsthand & share in this amazing lifesaving journey. It is a privilege to tell their destined story, which is one of faith, divine intervention, selflessness, heroism and courage.

John's story, (Organ4Morgan.com), began over 3-1/2 years ago as he was heartbreakingly added as a recipient on the kidney donation list. Over 101,000 Americans are currently on the national transplant waiting list for a lifesaving kidney donation, with only 17,000 people receiving them per year. Kidney transplants have the longest organ waiting list at a staggering 5 year wait. The equivalent of thirteen 747's filled with recipients die each year awaiting donation.

Most kidney donations are made by deceased donors, which makes J's donation rare and more unconventional. J is not a family member, friend, nor did he have a relationship with John prior, making this altruistic. Only 409 people in the entire United States were non-related living kidney donors in 2023, with 15 donors out of 345,750 Million Americans, making this TRULY altruistic. Herein itself becomes the beauty and selflessness of his act & choice to save his life.

The backstory:

I have personally known John and his family for over 40 years and prayed for John's donation for years. When his sister Sue was looking at moving back to Missouri to be closer to her family, J was her realtor. J situated her in a beautiful resort style home near us that the family would come to gather. Shortly after, he put John's daughter Taylor, into her first home out in Marthasville. Neither real estate transactions were by coincidence. They were just part of the story.

During a celebration with John's family, J met John for the first time. He was aware of his need for a kidney, but at that time his brother Tom had stepped up as his living donor and was a match. Months later during their Pre-Op visit at Barnes, Tom would find out he was no longer a candidate for transplant. He and Sue would deliver the bad news to John. The disappointment was beyond measure for the entire family, yet John felt sorry for the pain it caused his brother most. He was back on the "LIST".

J was friends with Mike Zangara, who lovingly became a living kidney donor for St. Louis newscaster, Anne Allred in 2017. Mike's selfless decision impacted J immeasurably and made him consider becoming a donor. He reached out to Mike recently to discuss what it all looked like and began what I would call the "research". He would watch endless hours of kidney donors around the world on youtube videos, watching their stories and surgeries being performed. He told me he wanted to see if he was a match for John one night after praying. He requested the paperwork from Barnes to start the process the next morning. It was months later J would find out the same surgeon who performed Mike’s surgery was slated for his. Just another crossover & parallel comfort level. You see, this transplant would become J’s very first surgery & first time ever undergoing anesthesia.

J approached Sue after a day of fishing and swimming at her home that he was going to get tested for John. Sue certainly appreciative of his gesture, but uncertain of the chances he'd be a match. In the interim, John's daughter Taylor was tested, and found out their blood type did not match. On Memorial Day weekend Sue hosted a celebration, our second with John present. It was there Taylor told her Dad they were not a match. That same day, J decided to tell John that he was going to move forward as a donor as he was O+. The same as John.

We could all see the hopelessness in John's eyes that day. I went to hug John, as J began telling him he was going to get further tested to see if he was his match. I expressed how sorry we both were that Taylor wasn't able, but Taylor just wasn't meant to be his donor. We believed J was placed with John. John simply stated what are the chances? He appeared in disbelief, overwhelmed, but thankful of J's consideration. J started more testing through Barnes that following week. He was appointed a donor administrator who was staggered by his selflessness knowing there was zero relationship between him and the recipient. She boasted how awesome he was to take this on.

I had told J that if he decided to move forward there was no questioning this was God's Plan. We prayed daily now to make this John's reality. During this time, J was all consumed. He focused on the kidney donation approaching his 85th hour of youtube videos on the subject as he spewed off transplant stats. The "Did you know...." lead each conversation we had. I never realized how many suffered from kidney failure. I now came to learn that J's donation would save more than John. Every person on the "LIST" would move up. We knew we had manifested this through prayer.

July 3rd was John's Mother Donna's heavenly birthday, and the day J found out he wasn't only a match, but a .0001 perfect match. He was a closer match than his own brother. This was a true miracle! We celebrated again for the third time on July 4th with Sue, but this time it was finally good news! As opposed to letting their advocates share the news, Sue asked that J tell John in person that next day.

July 5th marked my Dad Dave's first heavenly birthday. The timing and angels undeniable. God's hands placed all over this. We all felt it. But as he told John at his residence, it was quiet, emotional and John truly in shock. They set a date of September 10th, 2024, for their BIGGEST of celebrations yet, and the greatest news to share with the world.

As there has not been much time to prepare for this surgery, it affects J & I and our family significantly, as he is self-employed in real estate and the recovery lull will affect his business. We also made the decision to wait until after J was cleared for his Pre-Op before ever posting a GoFundMe.

J & I are grateful for the life we share with our twelve-year-old son, Brady, daughter Remey & her partner Justin, and Carly & son-in-law Jeremy who recently blessed us with our first grandson Maverick July 26th. Our lives are full. Every day is a celebration of life!

Our collective goal was to have the transplant before John went on dialysis offering him a better outcome & quicker recovery. We achieved this! Not only do I ask for your financial support to sustain J and our family during this time of devotion, but for prayers to blanket both of them as they enter into the transplant surgery.

J's heroism is something I cannot even fully comprehend. We reflected how many Facebook posts shared this year contained #GODSPLAN2024, and here we are!

September 7th, we will gather once again to celebrate John's birthday. Together, his family with ours, one last time before surgery. Until we are gathered to celebrate the two of them in recovery. My hopes are that they continue to celebrate their brotherhood and live their best lives possible. J is blessed to give life back to John to celebrate alongside his two daughters Ryanne & Taylor. This is an undeniable cross-over of family, friendship, love, & faith.

God Bless you & thank you for finding it in your heart to support their purpose by way of donation. By making this possible, every recipient on the kidney donation list moves up because you also played a part. That is something to CELEBRATE!