Hi I'm Jes and I'm looking for a new kidney! I'm 25 and this will be my second transplant. I've had kidney issues that were diagnosed when I was 11. But thankfully I was able to get through all of my schooling, including college, without much disruption of my life. About a year into my career I hit a spill and took a turn for the worse. I started dialysis and was blessed to find out that my mother would be a match for me. In 2010 I underwent a living donor transplant and started a new chapter in my life. It was amazing how much better I instantly felt and what a difference my mood was by not being on dialysis. Then in early 2011 my transplant began to fail. We tried to save the kidney through medications and other treatments in the hospital but nothing seemed to work. In May of 2011 I had to have my transplant removed and start dialysis all in the same week.

I got approved for a new transplant at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and am currently on a waiting list for a deceased donor. Because of my blood type I can technically take any blood for a donor, but as a deceased donor candidate they will only match you with someone of the same type. That means that I have a 7-9 year wait unless a perfect match comes along. 

Living donations typically are better and last on average 10 years longer than a deceased donor, so I'm hoping that I can find someone that would like to be my donor. For more information on donation please check out the donation page.

Kidney donations are expensive. Really expensive. We're talking quarter of a million dollars and higher expensive. Not many people have that laying around. Private insurance and Medicare chip in to bring the cost down but usually leave the patient with debt equal to a new car. Add to that the medical expenses from the donor as well as transportation and lodging and things start to add up.

My goal is to fund a second kidney transplant for myself. Any additional funds will be donated to the National Kidney Foundation to fund research to end kidney disease for all.

Before I or any others can get a kidney transplant you have to find a kidney. Living donation is a gift of life for someone on dialysis. It frees you from the constant appointments and strain on your life. A living donation also has a better survival rate than a cadaver donor. If you aren't an organ donor already consider becoming one. Want to see how you can help someone today? Call your local transplant hospital to become tested. Many centers offer altruistic donors which will match you with someone in need. For more information on donation, please see the donation page.

Having a surgery not your thing? There are many ways to help without going under the knife. The biggest being help me spread the word. Your brothers' girlfriends' mothers' yoga instructor might be my perfect match. Without a living donor I'm looking at a wait time of 7-9 years currently.

Of course there's also always monetary donation. I'm not looking to get rich. Just cover my medical expenses as well as transportation and lodging expenses associated with a transport. All additional funds raised will be directly donated to the National Kidney Foundation.