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Did you know?
At any given time, more than 100,000 Americans are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. Of those, 95,000 need a kidney, but merely 19,000 people receive one each year. And because so few Americans register to become organ donors, 12 people die waiting for a kidney every single day.
So what am I doing?
I made the decision to become a living organ donor. Specifically, I am doing what is called Living Non-directed Organ Donation, where I do not know the recipient. After months of tests and evaluations and blood draws and blood draws and blood draws, I am beyond thrilled to share that I have been approved to donate a kidney. My right one, to be exact.
Why am I doing this?
With turning 40 this year (gah!), I started considering how I could give back more. While I've long had experience with friends and family with serious illnesses, the past few years have seen that compounded exponentially - so many family, friends, and colleagues now diagnosed, living with, and lost to Cancer, MS, Lupus, Diabetes, ALS, Alzheimer's, to name just a few - all these overwhelming things that left me feeling completely helpless in wanting to help. Somewhat serendipitously, at this same time I came across a few articles related to kidney donation, learned about new policies being enacted at the state and federal levels supporting organ donation, and thus began digging into the details. I had always assumed it was too risky, costly, time-consuming, and essentially unmanageable. But after doing my research (excel sheets obviously involved) I realized: this is absolutely doable, and even more so, severely needed. At that point, I knew it was something I simply had to do.
About this GoFundMe:
Your generous donation will help offset costs not covered by the procedure or during the recovery period, such as: extra walks and playtime for young Archiekins so he doesn't go full MonsterMode(TM), food/delivery, travel to and from appointments, and travel for some of my wonderful family members who have graciously offered to come to Chicago and peel grapes and fan me during this time.
Most importantly, all remaining funds will be donated to the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois. Learn more about the important work they are doing at www.nkfi.org.
Finally, I would encourage everyone to please consider registering as an organ donor - learn more at www.organdonor.gov/register.
Thank You!
Thank you for your support! Be on the lookout for updates as we move forward with the matching process and surgery. At any time I would be happy to share additional details of this adventure, talk to you if you are considering organ donation, and support you during your own organ transplant journey.
Archie, Mort, and I appreciate your support during this very exciting endeavor.
If you are interested in learning more and want to nerd out like me, here are some helpful resources:
National Kidney Foundation: www.kidney.org
National Kidney Foundation of Illinois: www.nkfi.org
Northwestern Organ Transplantation Program: www.nm.org/conditions-and-care-areas/organ-transplantation
American Transplant Foundation: www.americantransplantfoundation.org
Sign Up to be an Organ Donor! www.organdonor.gov/register
Note: if at any time pictures or references to Tim Tebow or Joe Buck appear on this page, it is because my older brother has access to it.
At any given time, more than 100,000 Americans are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. Of those, 95,000 need a kidney, but merely 19,000 people receive one each year. And because so few Americans register to become organ donors, 12 people die waiting for a kidney every single day.
So what am I doing?
I made the decision to become a living organ donor. Specifically, I am doing what is called Living Non-directed Organ Donation, where I do not know the recipient. After months of tests and evaluations and blood draws and blood draws and blood draws, I am beyond thrilled to share that I have been approved to donate a kidney. My right one, to be exact.
Why am I doing this?
With turning 40 this year (gah!), I started considering how I could give back more. While I've long had experience with friends and family with serious illnesses, the past few years have seen that compounded exponentially - so many family, friends, and colleagues now diagnosed, living with, and lost to Cancer, MS, Lupus, Diabetes, ALS, Alzheimer's, to name just a few - all these overwhelming things that left me feeling completely helpless in wanting to help. Somewhat serendipitously, at this same time I came across a few articles related to kidney donation, learned about new policies being enacted at the state and federal levels supporting organ donation, and thus began digging into the details. I had always assumed it was too risky, costly, time-consuming, and essentially unmanageable. But after doing my research (excel sheets obviously involved) I realized: this is absolutely doable, and even more so, severely needed. At that point, I knew it was something I simply had to do.
About this GoFundMe:
Your generous donation will help offset costs not covered by the procedure or during the recovery period, such as: extra walks and playtime for young Archiekins so he doesn't go full MonsterMode(TM), food/delivery, travel to and from appointments, and travel for some of my wonderful family members who have graciously offered to come to Chicago and peel grapes and fan me during this time.
Most importantly, all remaining funds will be donated to the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois. Learn more about the important work they are doing at www.nkfi.org.
Finally, I would encourage everyone to please consider registering as an organ donor - learn more at www.organdonor.gov/register.
Thank You!
Thank you for your support! Be on the lookout for updates as we move forward with the matching process and surgery. At any time I would be happy to share additional details of this adventure, talk to you if you are considering organ donation, and support you during your own organ transplant journey.
Archie, Mort, and I appreciate your support during this very exciting endeavor.
If you are interested in learning more and want to nerd out like me, here are some helpful resources:
National Kidney Foundation: www.kidney.org
National Kidney Foundation of Illinois: www.nkfi.org
Northwestern Organ Transplantation Program: www.nm.org/conditions-and-care-areas/organ-transplantation
American Transplant Foundation: www.americantransplantfoundation.org
Sign Up to be an Organ Donor! www.organdonor.gov/register
Note: if at any time pictures or references to Tim Tebow or Joe Buck appear on this page, it is because my older brother has access to it.