Navin Needs a Kidney

Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is a genetic condition that causes cysts to grow in the kidneys, slowly reducing how well they work. It runs in my family, and I inherited it too. Over time, it can lead to kidney failure. Like many people with PKD, I’ve also dealt with things like high blood pressure and kidney stones, but the biggest challenge is knowing that my kidneys will eventually stop working on their own.
Source: pkdcure.org

I live with constant fatigue and low energy, which makes even small tasks take more effort. My body sometimes struggles to regulate temperature, and my skin gets dry and itchy; things that seem minor, but add up day after day. These symptoms are part of living with chronic kidney disease (CKD), which slowly worsens over time. As kidney function declines, it can cause swelling, muscle cramps, and nausea. I work closely with my doctors to manage these changes and stay as healthy and active as possible while preparing for a transplant.
Source: Mayo Clinic

Without a transplant, I would have to start dialysis to stay alive. Dialysis keeps you going, but it’s not living. It means being hooked up to a machine for hours at a time — several days each week, or sometimes every night — while it filters your blood because your kidneys no longer can. It leaves people drained, sore, and often too tired to do much else.

For many, dialysis becomes life itself with the appointments, needles, fatigue, over and over again. It would make it hard to work, travel, or enjoy the simple moments I love most with family and friends. While I’m deeply grateful that dialysis exists, it’s not the life I hope for. A kidney transplant would give me back my energy, my freedom, and the chance to live fully again, not just survive.
For more detailed information, you can explore resources like MUSC Health.

Yes, I have. Unfortunately, my brother also has Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), so he isn’t eligible to donate. My sister was originally going to be my donor, but during the pandemic we learned that she, too, has PKD. My sister-in-law even offered to donate, but she only has one kidney. My mom also has PKD, which means most of my immediate family can’t donate.

It’s been difficult to realize that the people who love me most can’t help in this way, but it’s also made me deeply grateful for anyone willing to consider becoming a living donor.

A kidney from a living donor gives me the best possible chance at a healthy, lasting life. Living donor kidneys usually work better and last longer because they come from someone whose organ is functioning perfectly at the time of donation. Unlike kidneys from deceased donors, they don’t go through hours without blood flow, which can cause damage before the transplant.

A living donation also means the surgery can be carefully planned at a time when both the donor and I are healthy and ready. That makes recovery smoother and the transplant more successful. Most of all, it offers the gift of time: more years of good health, energy, and the chance to live fully again with the people I love.

Having more than one potential donor gives me the best chance of a successful and lasting transplant. Not everyone who is willing to donate will be a direct match, and circumstances can change, so having options helps ensure the process can move forward without delays.

What makes this especially meaningful is that even if someone is not a match for me, they can still help in a powerful way through a voucher donation. Donating through a voucher allows me to receive a living donor kidney when I need it and provides enormous peace of mind knowing that my future transplant is secured.

Another option is a paired exchange, where a donor’s kidney helps someone else, and in return, I receive a compatible kidney from another donor. Whether through a direct match, a voucher, or a paired exchange, each person who steps forward brings me closer to a healthy future and makes a life saving difference.
Learn more about the voucher program: kidneyregistry.com/for-centers/voucher-program
Learn more about paired donation: kidney.org/transplantation/livingdonors/kidney-paired-donation

Yes, I’m on the national kidney transplant waitlist, which matches patients with kidneys from deceased donors. Unfortunately, these kidneys don’t last as long and can come with more complications. Because my blood type (B+) is common, the wait can be very long, often close to ten years.

Being on the list brings hope, but also uncertainty. Every year that passes means my kidney function declines a little more, and I get closer to needing dialysis. That’s why finding a living donor offers the best hope. It could mean years of health and a chance to truly live again, instead of waiting for time to run out.

My doctors closely monitor my kidney function using a measure called GFR. When it drops to around 15, that indicates kidney failure and the need for a transplant. At the moment, I am not feeling the most severe symptoms, but my nephrologist has explained that symptoms can begin suddenly, sometimes within a relatively short period of time.

One of the challenges with kidney disease is how unpredictable it can be. Kidney function does not always decline in a straight line, and changes can happen faster than expected. While I hope to continue without a transplant well into 2027 or 2028, it is also very possible that I could need one sooner, potentially in 2026. It is difficult to predict with certainty.

Because of this uncertainty, planning ahead matters a great deal. Having potential donors identified, or securing a voucher now, would provide enormous peace of mind. A voucher ensures that a living donor kidney would be available when I need it, even if the timing turns out to be sooner than hoped.

The goal is to have a preemptive transplant, meaning before dialysis becomes necessary. Planning ahead gives me the best chance for better outcomes, a smoother recovery, and the ability to continue living fully.

No, you do not. There are several ways to help, depending on compatibility.

If you are a blood type and medical match, you could donate your kidney to me directly. In that case, your kidney would become part of me, and I would take care of it for the rest of my life. A direct donation from a known donor offers the best outcomes and would give me life in the most direct way possible.

If we are not a match, the next best option for me is a voucher donation. With a voucher, you would donate your kidney to someone else who needs it right away, and I would receive a voucher that guarantees me a living donor kidney when I need it. I would also be there to support you through your donation journey in any way I can.

Another option is a kidney paired exchange, sometimes called a kidney swap, where donors and recipients are matched across families.

All of these paths save lives. A direct donation offers the best outcomes when possible, and a voucher donation provides the greatest peace of mind if we are not a match.
Sources: Mayo Clinic, National Kidney Registry, Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Donating a kidney is a significant but very safe decision. Most donors recover quickly and go on to live healthy, active lives. The surgery itself carries some short-term discomfort and a brief recovery period, but serious complications are rare.

In the long term, donors usually notice little or no change in their health. The remaining kidney naturally adjusts and takes on the extra work. Regular checkups help ensure everything continues to function normally.

Transplant centers are extremely careful about approving donors and provide ongoing support before, during, and after surgery. It is a process designed to protect you and set you up for a full, healthy life.

Choosing to donate is an extraordinary act of kindness that can give someone years of life, health, and hope, a gift that truly lasts forever.

The National Kidney Foundation provides a wealth of resources for potential donors, outlining both the process and the support available. Their resources aim to support and inform potential donors every step of the way, highlighting the profound impact their gift can have on a recipient’s life.

The process starts with a short online form and some simple blood and urine tests. If everything looks good, the next step is a more detailed checkup with doctors and specialists to make sure donation is completely safe for you. They’ll review your health, blood type, and compatibility with me.

The whole process can take a few weeks to a few months, depending on how quickly appointments and results come through. Much of it can be done virtually, with just one or two visits in person. The transplant team is great at guiding donors through every step.

If you decide to get tested, you won’t have to do it alone. I’d love to come with you, take you out for lunch, and make a day of it. You’d have my full support the whole way.

Once a donor is approved, the transplant team coordinates with both the donor and me to schedule the surgery at a time that works best for everyone. The process is flexible, and the hospital makes sure each step feels manageable and safe.

Before surgery, the donor meets again with the transplant team to review the plan, ask any final questions, and ensure they’re completely comfortable. The procedure itself usually takes a few hours, and most donors spend one to three days in the hospital before going home to recover.

Throughout the process, the team provides ongoing support — and I’ll be there too, to help in any way I can.

Thanks to modern surgical techniques, recovery after donating a kidney is much easier than most people expect. The procedure is usually done laparoscopically, using tiny incisions instead of a large one. Most donors stay in the hospital for one to three days and are back to normal activities shortly after.

To put it in perspective, recovery is typically faster and less invasive than a C-section. Some hospitals, like Weill Cornell, even use a single incision through the navel, which can further reduce scarring and speed up healing. Sources: Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Weill Cornell Medicine.

I'm registered for transplant at Weill Cornell Medicine but also registering at NYU Langone in New York City. Both are excellent centers with strong track records in kidney transplants.

I was drawn to Weill Cornell because they focus heavily on living donor transplants and use advanced, minimally invasive techniques that make recovery easier. NYU Langone also has an incredible program and has performed the most kidney transplants overall.

Either hospital would provide exceptional care and guide donors through every step with safety and compassion.

You can choose to donate whenever the timing feels right for you, but donating earlier can make a meaningful difference for me. If you are ready before I need the transplant, you can donate through a voucher program. That means you would donate a kidney now, and I would receive a voucher that guarantees me a living donor kidney when the time comes.

This kind of donation can save a life right away and also give me something incredibly important: peace of mind. Knowing that a kidney will be available when I need it would lift a huge weight and allow me to focus on staying healthy rather than worrying about timing and uncertainty.

If you think you might want to donate, I encourage you to get tested sooner rather than later. There is no advantage to waiting, and starting now helps us plan ahead and gives me the best chance to avoid dialysis and stay well. For me, an early donation or a voucher could truly be life saving.

To learn more or start the process, visit the National Kidney Registry Voucher Program or begin the donor screening here: Begin Screening.

All medical costs for the donation, including testing, surgery, the hospital stay, and recovery, are fully covered by my insurance. You would not have to pay for any of that.

Programs like DonorShield and the National Living Donor Assistance Center (NLDAC) can also help with travel, lodging, childcare, and lost wages. This means there would be no financial costs for you, even for the days you need to take off work. These programs are designed to make sure donors are fully supported and never left with expenses for doing something so generous.

While it is illegal to pay for an organ, U.S. law allows recipients to cover these related costs. I would be honored to take care of them as a small way to thank you for the gift you would be giving me.

If you ever find yourself in need of a kidney transplant after having donated one, you'll be given a priority status on the transplant list. This prioritization is part of a policy to ensure that those who have donated a kidney and later need one themselves are given prompt access to a transplant. The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) recognizes the sacrifice of living donors by providing them with this priority, which significantly shortens their wait time compared to non-donors. For instance, a study highlighted that donors had a median wait time of about 145 days, which is much shorter than the average for non-donors.

Moreover, the National Kidney Registry facilitates priority access for prior living donors through specific programs like the Voucher Program and paired exchange donations, ensuring they receive a compatible kidney swiftly if needed.

For more information on how this process works and the protections in place for kidney donors, you can visit pages like the National Kidney Registry and OPTN's FAQ on Kidney Allocation System.

• More than 100,000 people in the United States are currently waiting for a kidney transplant.
• A kidney from a living donor can last 15 to 20 years or more, compared to about 10–12 years for one from a deceased donor.
• Living donor transplants have a better success rate and shorter recovery times for recipients.
• Every year, more than 6,000 people generously choose to donate a kidney while alive.
• 98 percent of living donors say they would make the same decision again.

• Selena Gomez received a kidney from her best friend Francia Raisa after battling lupus nephritis.
• Sarah Hyland has received two kidney transplants, one from her father and another from her brother.
• Alonzo Mourning, former NBA star, received a transplant in 2003.
• George Lopez received a kidney from his then-wife in 2005.