My Kidney Story:
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and "The Big Ask"
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and "The Big Ask"
For more information about the
living kidney donor evaluation process, you can download
UCLA's Donor Information Packet:
Dear Friends and Agape Chapel Family,
Some of you may know that I have been struggling with kidney disease over the past few years. I was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in early 2020 and ultimately experienced complete kidney failure in December 2022, while visiting my daughter and family in Washington. After a late-night ER visit followed by a longer hospitalization stay, the medical staff was able to stabilize me and began my first dialysis treatments. Upon returning home to California, my wife, Mesa, was able to complete the training courses in order to perform the dialysis treatments from home (Home Hemodialysis or HHD), which I am very thankful for.
After kidney failure, my treatment options are limited to dialysis treatments or a kidney transplant. My dialysis treatments, which I need 4 times a week for 4 hours at a time, do the work my kidneys can no longer do to keep me alive. But a transplant would offer me more freedom and the ability to live a longer, healthier, more normal life. A transplant would also give me more time to do the things I enjoy most, like spending time with my family, including two beloved grandchildren, and teaching the Bible at Agape Chapel OC.
However, finding a kidney for a transplant is not easy. There are about 100,000+ people on the waiting list for a deceased donor kidney like me. Some wait for years; many die while waiting. The average wait time is five years or more for a kidney from a deceased donor. However, there is another option: receiving a kidney from a living donor.
Asking others to consider donating a kidney to me is both extremely difficult and humbling. This is not something I ever dreamed of asking of another person. My wife wanted to donate her kidney, but found out that she was not able to donate. I was initially very hesitant to publicize these details of my life, but it greatly improves my chances of getting a transplant. A living kidney donation typically lasts longer and has better function opposed to a deceased donor kidney. You might not know a lot about living donation; I know I didn’t before kidney disease affected my life. Understandably, some people are afraid about the surgery and what living with one kidney will mean for them.
Here’s some basic information about kidney donation from the National Kidney Foundation:
You can also learn more about living donation on the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) website or by contacting the NKF’s free, confidential helpline at (855) NKF-CARES (855-653-2273) or nkfcares@kidney.org. If you want to talk to someone who’s already donated a kidney, NKF can also help.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. If donating a kidney to me is something that God has placed on your heart, I would be happy to tell you more about my story and explore the process of determining if you are a match for me. You can also contact my transplant center (UCLA Living Kidney Donor Program) directly at (866)672-5333. For those who are considering donating a kidney, the first step would be to complete UCLA's confidential, online health history questionnaire before coming in for an evaluation.
However, I know living donation may not be right for everyone. If you would still like to help, you can:
Maranatha,
Pastor Terry Reynolds
714-553-8490
pastorterryreynolds@gmail.com
Some of you may know that I have been struggling with kidney disease over the past few years. I was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in early 2020 and ultimately experienced complete kidney failure in December 2022, while visiting my daughter and family in Washington. After a late-night ER visit followed by a longer hospitalization stay, the medical staff was able to stabilize me and began my first dialysis treatments. Upon returning home to California, my wife, Mesa, was able to complete the training courses in order to perform the dialysis treatments from home (Home Hemodialysis or HHD), which I am very thankful for.
After kidney failure, my treatment options are limited to dialysis treatments or a kidney transplant. My dialysis treatments, which I need 4 times a week for 4 hours at a time, do the work my kidneys can no longer do to keep me alive. But a transplant would offer me more freedom and the ability to live a longer, healthier, more normal life. A transplant would also give me more time to do the things I enjoy most, like spending time with my family, including two beloved grandchildren, and teaching the Bible at Agape Chapel OC.
However, finding a kidney for a transplant is not easy. There are about 100,000+ people on the waiting list for a deceased donor kidney like me. Some wait for years; many die while waiting. The average wait time is five years or more for a kidney from a deceased donor. However, there is another option: receiving a kidney from a living donor.
Asking others to consider donating a kidney to me is both extremely difficult and humbling. This is not something I ever dreamed of asking of another person. My wife wanted to donate her kidney, but found out that she was not able to donate. I was initially very hesitant to publicize these details of my life, but it greatly improves my chances of getting a transplant. A living kidney donation typically lasts longer and has better function opposed to a deceased donor kidney. You might not know a lot about living donation; I know I didn’t before kidney disease affected my life. Understandably, some people are afraid about the surgery and what living with one kidney will mean for them.
Here’s some basic information about kidney donation from the National Kidney Foundation:
- You only need one kidney to live a healthy, long life.
- Most donor surgery is done laparoscopically, meaning through tiny incisions.
- The recuperation period is usually fairly quick, generally two weeks.
- The cost of your evaluation and surgery will be covered by my insurance. The hospital can give you extensive information on this.
- You will have a separate team of healthcare professionals to evaluate you as a living donor. Their job is to help you understand the risks and benefits and look out for your best interests.
You can also learn more about living donation on the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) website or by contacting the NKF’s free, confidential helpline at (855) NKF-CARES (855-653-2273) or nkfcares@kidney.org. If you want to talk to someone who’s already donated a kidney, NKF can also help.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. If donating a kidney to me is something that God has placed on your heart, I would be happy to tell you more about my story and explore the process of determining if you are a match for me. You can also contact my transplant center (UCLA Living Kidney Donor Program) directly at (866)672-5333. For those who are considering donating a kidney, the first step would be to complete UCLA's confidential, online health history questionnaire before coming in for an evaluation.
However, I know living donation may not be right for everyone. If you would still like to help, you can:
- Pray: I would appreciate if you would join me in prayer for the complete healing of my disease, or that God would provide a kidney donor.
- Share: If you are willing to share my story with others, it may help me receive a kidney sooner and encourage others to consider helping the many people on the wait list. Sharing also brings awareness to kidney disease and living donation.
- Register: Consider being an organ donor after death. You can register to become an organ and tissue donor when you renew or apply for your driver license or ID card through the DMV. You can also sign up online anytime or learn more about organ, eye and tissue donation by visiting Donate Life CA online.
Maranatha,
Pastor Terry Reynolds
714-553-8490
pastorterryreynolds@gmail.com