Help me get my story out please 🙏

Happy New Year! It's Jan 27 2026 and I wish I had good news. I am now entering a bit of a desperate mode as I feel a bit worse by the week. I'm at eGFR 15 / Stage 5/ End Stage, luckily holding there for the last two months but have no potential living donors actively testing.... I do remain hopeful, but some days it is hard. I continue my focus on exercise and work to keep my mind off the waiting....

I'm in the process of a full marketing campaign to get the word out about my need for a living kidney donor. My kidney mentor convinced me to start creating videos, flyers, QR codes, yard sign anything that might catch the right persons' attention. I'm a bit camera shy, but I will be getting myself together for the task so those of you who are able can share my story across all mediums.

There are healthy people out there who will donate a kidney to a stranger because they learn what an amazing gift of life it can be and that there is great need. See the video on my resources page, it explains the situation very well. My mentor always reminds me of the airline stewardess who put a sign in her front yard and ended up with the postman donating! That's always encouraging to hear.

Again, wish I had more to report, but it's just a waiting game at this point. The crazy thing is I look fine. That's a hard one! Kidney disease is very stealth. I basically have 15 % of my kidney function left . am full of toxins, and have a locked left knee (that's a whole other story) but because I'm exercising I keep getting compliments about how good I look. I realize it's a blessing I still look ok, but I think people might understand a little more of my desperation if I was, I don't know ragged and drooling maybe! .. 🧟‍♀️

On the bright side, working from home has has it's ups, I get to spend time in the backyard working and hanging out with my cat family. Marcello waits with great excitement each day to go outside and run around the yard, seeking out the birds and squirrels who come to play with him.

Valentino & Giovanni enjoying the backyard

Marcello and the dandelion puffball