imagine it’s Monday morning and you’re getting ready for the week ahead
getting ready for the week ahead
getting ready for the week ahead but you awaken to feelings of profound
but you awaken to feelings of profound
but you awaken to feelings of profound fatigue as though you never slept and
fatigue as though you never slept and
fatigue as though you never slept and your mind is not clear or crisp and you
your mind is not clear or crisp and you
your mind is not clear or crisp and you wonder how you will get it all done you
wonder how you will get it all done you
wonder how you will get it all done you leave the house and you start the drive
leave the house and you start the drive
leave the house and you start the drive but you’re not headed to work or school
but you’re not headed to work or school
but you’re not headed to work or school instead you check into the local
instead you check into the local
instead you check into the local dialysis center where you spend the next
dialysis center where you spend the next
dialysis center where you spend the next four hours hooked to a machine with a
four hours hooked to a machine with a
four hours hooked to a machine with a series of filters designed to clear your
series of filters designed to clear your
series of filters designed to clear your blood of the very toxins that cause that
blood of the very toxins that cause that
blood of the very toxins that cause that fatigue and that mental fuzziness on
fatigue and that mental fuzziness on
fatigue and that mental fuzziness on your way out
your way out
your way out as you say goodbye to the staff they
as you say goodbye to the staff they
as you say goodbye to the staff they respond see you in two days and that’s
respond see you in two days and that’s
respond see you in two days and that’s what life with kidney failure is like
what life with kidney failure is like
what life with kidney failure is like just to live you have to come back every
just to live you have to come back every
just to live you have to come back every two days and repeat the process over and
two days and repeat the process over and
two days and repeat the process over and over again to make your situation seem
over again to make your situation seem
over again to make your situation seem even more impossible you learn that 10
even more impossible you learn that 10
even more impossible you learn that 10 out of every 100 kidney failure patients
out of every 100 kidney failure patients
out of every 100 kidney failure patients will die on dialysis each year even
will die on dialysis each year even
will die on dialysis each year even worse
worse
worse the only cure kidney transplantation it
the only cure kidney transplantation it
the only cure kidney transplantation it has a supply and demand problem more
has a supply and demand problem more
has a supply and demand problem more than a hundred thousand people are in
than a hundred thousand people are in
than a hundred thousand people are in need of a kidney transplant but fewer
need of a kidney transplant but fewer
need of a kidney transplant but fewer than 11,000 deceased donor kidney
than 11,000 deceased donor kidney
than 11,000 deceased donor kidney transplants are performed each year from
transplants are performed each year from
transplants are performed each year from the shadows however emerge family
the shadows however emerge family
the shadows however emerge family friends even strangers they’ve heard
friends even strangers they’ve heard
friends even strangers they’ve heard your story and your plight and they are
your story and your plight and they are
your story and your plight and they are ready and willing to give you the gift
ready and willing to give you the gift
ready and willing to give you the gift of life they’ve learned about living
of life they’ve learned about living
of life they’ve learned about living kidney donation and that most people can
kidney donation and that most people can
kidney donation and that most people can live a healthy normal life with just one
live a healthy normal life with just one
live a healthy normal life with just one kidney in fact they’re ready and willing
kidney in fact they’re ready and willing
kidney in fact they’re ready and willing to give you their kidney living donor
to give you their kidney living donor
to give you their kidney living donor kidney transplantation will cure your
kidney transplantation will cure your
kidney transplantation will cure your kidney failure and eliminate your need
kidney failure and eliminate your need
kidney failure and eliminate your need for dialysis one
for dialysis one
for dialysis one doctors begin testing their blood to
doctors begin testing their blood to
doctors begin testing their blood to make sure they’re a match for you one by
make sure they’re a match for you one by
make sure they’re a match for you one by one however they are eliminated from
one however they are eliminated from
one however they are eliminated from donating to you because of blood group
donating to you because of blood group
donating to you because of blood group and tissue and compatibilities there are
and tissue and compatibilities there are
and tissue and compatibilities there are no matches and you are left to wait for
no matches and you are left to wait for
no matches and you are left to wait for a deceased donor kidney to become
a deceased donor kidney to become
a deceased donor kidney to become available the wait you ask how long 8 to
available the wait you ask how long 8 to
available the wait you ask how long 8 to 10 years and you remember 10% of kidney
10 years and you remember 10% of kidney
10 years and you remember 10% of kidney failure patients will die each year
failure patients will die each year
failure patients will die each year waiting you feel so alone wondering if
waiting you feel so alone wondering if
waiting you feel so alone wondering if you too will die while waiting you’re
you too will die while waiting you’re
you too will die while waiting you’re not alone many individuals in need of a
not alone many individuals in need of a
not alone many individuals in need of a kidney transplant have a willing but
kidney transplant have a willing but
kidney transplant have a willing but incompatible living kidney donor
incompatible living kidney donor
incompatible living kidney donor in fact almost half of people who
in fact almost half of people who
in fact almost half of people who volunteer to be a living kidney donor
volunteer to be a living kidney donor
volunteer to be a living kidney donor will not match their intended recipient
will not match their intended recipient
will not match their intended recipient this is because of differences in blood
this is because of differences in blood
this is because of differences in blood groups and tissue types you wonder is
groups and tissue types you wonder is
groups and tissue types you wonder is there a solution there is a solution in
there a solution there is a solution in
there a solution there is a solution in fact it’s what I do
fact it’s what I do
fact it’s what I do I’m part transplant surgeon then part
I’m part transplant surgeon then part
I’m part transplant surgeon then part matchmaker if you will
matchmaker if you will
matchmaker if you will I take living donor and recipient pairs
I take living donor and recipient pairs
I take living donor and recipient pairs that don’t match because of age
that don’t match because of age
that don’t match because of age differences size differences or
differences size differences or
differences size differences or differences in blood types and tissue
differences in blood types and tissue
differences in blood types and tissue types and I facilitate kidney exchanges
types and I facilitate kidney exchanges
types and I facilitate kidney exchanges so instead of receiving a kidney from
so instead of receiving a kidney from
so instead of receiving a kidney from your original donor you receive a kidney
your original donor you receive a kidney
your original donor you receive a kidney from a total stranger and in return your
from a total stranger and in return your
from a total stranger and in return your original donor gives to someone else in
original donor gives to someone else in
original donor gives to someone else in need while it may seem complicated we
need while it may seem complicated we
need while it may seem complicated we actually borrowed a page out of the
actually borrowed a page out of the
actually borrowed a page out of the airline industry’s playbook in fact our
airline industry’s playbook in fact our
airline industry’s playbook in fact our optimized computerized algorithms
optimized computerized algorithms
optimized computerized algorithms designed to identify the most number of
designed to identify the most number of
designed to identify the most number of potential matches and therefore
potential matches and therefore
potential matches and therefore transplants are actually based on the
transplants are actually based on the
transplants are actually based on the same applied mathematics algorithms that
same applied mathematics algorithms that
same applied mathematics algorithms that airline industries used to keep
airline industries used to keep
airline industries used to keep airplanes from crashing into each other
airplanes from crashing into each other
airplanes from crashing into each other during flight you see unlike the human
during flight you see unlike the human
during flight you see unlike the human brain the
brain the
brain the optimized computerized algorithms can
optimized computerized algorithms can
optimized computerized algorithms can process all possible matches and choose
process all possible matches and choose
process all possible matches and choose the combinations that will result in the
the combinations that will result in the
the combinations that will result in the greatest number of transplants to
greatest number of transplants to
greatest number of transplants to participate our recipient simply needs
participate our recipient simply needs
participate our recipient simply needs someone a spouse a parent a friend
someone a spouse a parent a friend
someone a spouse a parent a friend willing to donate a kidney to a total
willing to donate a kidney to a total
willing to donate a kidney to a total stranger on their behalf these
stranger on their behalf these
stranger on their behalf these individuals may begin as complete
individuals may begin as complete
individuals may begin as complete strangers but with the help of a loved
strangers but with the help of a loved
strangers but with the help of a loved one willing to donate in honor of them
one willing to donate in honor of them
one willing to donate in honor of them they can change each other’s lives come
they can change each other’s lives come
they can change each other’s lives come with me to a hospital ward filled with
with me to a hospital ward filled with
with me to a hospital ward filled with patients in need of transplants and
patients in need of transplants and
patients in need of transplants and their living kidney donors desperate to
their living kidney donors desperate to
their living kidney donors desperate to help them we’re making surgery rounds
help them we’re making surgery rounds
help them we’re making surgery rounds we’re walking room to room checking on
we’re walking room to room checking on
we’re walking room to room checking on the patients answering questions and
the patients answering questions and
the patients answering questions and making sure they’re ready for surgery we
making sure they’re ready for surgery we
making sure they’re ready for surgery we knocked on the first door and we enter
knocked on the first door and we enter
knocked on the first door and we enter to find Caitlyn a rising high school
to find Caitlyn a rising high school
to find Caitlyn a rising high school senior in black belt in karate who
senior in black belt in karate who
senior in black belt in karate who suddenly fell seriously ill and had few
suddenly fell seriously ill and had few
suddenly fell seriously ill and had few options
options
options Caitlyn joined the ranks of the more
Caitlyn joined the ranks of the more
Caitlyn joined the ranks of the more than 100,000 Americans in desperate need
than 100,000 Americans in desperate need
than 100,000 Americans in desperate need of a kidney transplant at Caitlyn’s side
of a kidney transplant at Caitlyn’s side
of a kidney transplant at Caitlyn’s side is her dad Earl
is her dad Earl
is her dad Earl who’s ready and willing to give her the
who’s ready and willing to give her the
who’s ready and willing to give her the gift of life Earl indeed is both a blood
gift of life Earl indeed is both a blood
gift of life Earl indeed is both a blood group and tissue match for his daughter
group and tissue match for his daughter
group and tissue match for his daughter Caitlin but his 25 years her senior and
Caitlin but his 25 years her senior and
Caitlin but his 25 years her senior and Earl knows that by participating in the
Earl knows that by participating in the
Earl knows that by participating in the exchange Caitlin stands to benefit by
exchange Caitlin stands to benefit by
exchange Caitlin stands to benefit by receiving a kidney from a much younger
receiving a kidney from a much younger
receiving a kidney from a much younger stranger and just a few doors down we
stranger and just a few doors down we
stranger and just a few doors down we entered a fine pastor Derek pastor Derek
entered a fine pastor Derek pastor Derek
entered a fine pastor Derek pastor Derek has been waiting some time to donate his
has been waiting some time to donate his
has been waiting some time to donate his kidney in honor of his friend Michael
kidney in honor of his friend Michael
kidney in honor of his friend Michael with whom he was not a tissue match you
with whom he was not a tissue match you
with whom he was not a tissue match you see Michael already received his kidney
see Michael already received his kidney
see Michael already received his kidney transplant as a part of a different leg
transplant as a part of a different leg
transplant as a part of a different leg of the chain Pastor Derek is simply
of the chain Pastor Derek is simply
of the chain Pastor Derek is simply paying the gift forward by donating in
paying the gift forward by donating in
paying the gift forward by donating in honor of Michael and in so doing is
honor of Michael and in so doing is
honor of Michael and in so doing is keeping the chain alive and passing the
keeping the chain alive and passing the
keeping the chain alive and passing the gift of altruism on to the next person
gift of altruism on to the next person
gift of altruism on to the next person in need and just next door although
in need and just next door although
in need and just next door although neither of them knows
neither of them knows
neither of them knows is Alison a wife and mother of three who
is Alison a wife and mother of three who
is Alison a wife and mother of three who will be receiving the pastor’s gift of
will be receiving the pastor’s gift of
will be receiving the pastor’s gift of life this young mom is receiving pastor
life this young mom is receiving pastor
life this young mom is receiving pastor Derrick’s kidney because her cousin
Derrick’s kidney because her cousin
Derrick’s kidney because her cousin Courtney with whom she was not a blood
Courtney with whom she was not a blood
Courtney with whom she was not a blood type match came forward and volunteered
type match came forward and volunteered
type match came forward and volunteered to donate a kidney on her behalf and
to donate a kidney on her behalf and
to donate a kidney on her behalf and although none of them realizes it cousin
although none of them realizes it cousin
although none of them realizes it cousin Courtney’s kidney is destined to provide
Courtney’s kidney is destined to provide
Courtney’s kidney is destined to provide high-schooler Caitlyn a fresh new start
high-schooler Caitlyn a fresh new start
high-schooler Caitlyn a fresh new start on life in fact a 20 year younger kidney
on life in fact a 20 year younger kidney
on life in fact a 20 year younger kidney than her dad Earl could have given her
than her dad Earl could have given her
than her dad Earl could have given her and in Caitlyn’s honor Earl will donate
and in Caitlyn’s honor Earl will donate
and in Caitlyn’s honor Earl will donate his kidney setting off the next series
his kidney setting off the next series
his kidney setting off the next series of exchanges and just like that a string
of exchanges and just like that a string
of exchanges and just like that a string of strangers changed each other’s lives
of strangers changed each other’s lives
of strangers changed each other’s lives simply by changing the conversation from
simply by changing the conversation from
simply by changing the conversation from donating directly to their loved one to
donating directly to their loved one to
donating directly to their loved one to donating in honor of their loved one
donating in honor of their loved one
donating in honor of their loved one although they all began as strangers the
although they all began as strangers the
although they all began as strangers the relief and gratitude are palpable and
relief and gratitude are palpable and
relief and gratitude are palpable and you can see edged into each of their
you can see edged into each of their
you can see edged into each of their faces the realization that they have
faces the realization that they have
faces the realization that they have each become a part of something bigger
each become a part of something bigger
each become a part of something bigger than themselves in one day multiple
than themselves in one day multiple
than themselves in one day multiple lives were changed two transplants were
lives were changed two transplants were
lives were changed two transplants were made a reality and no one was left to
made a reality and no one was left to
made a reality and no one was left to wait for a deceased donor kidney to
wait for a deceased donor kidney to
wait for a deceased donor kidney to become available so simple yet so
become available so simple yet so
become available so simple yet so profound donor exchanges like this one
profound donor exchanges like this one
profound donor exchanges like this one have the potential to revolutionize how
have the potential to revolutionize how
have the potential to revolutionize how we match those in need with potential
we match those in need with potential
we match those in need with potential donors and could double the number of
donors and could double the number of
donors and could double the number of live donor transplants performed in this
live donor transplants performed in this
live donor transplants performed in this country each year from 6,000 to 12,000
country each year from 6,000 to 12,000
country each year from 6,000 to 12,000 that’s six thousand more live donor
that’s six thousand more live donor
that’s six thousand more live donor kidney transplants that’s six thousand
kidney transplants that’s six thousand
kidney transplants that’s six thousand fewer people waiting for a deceased
fewer people waiting for a deceased
fewer people waiting for a deceased donor kidney to become available it’s
donor kidney to become available it’s
donor kidney to become available it’s also sick
also sick
also sick thousand more deceased donor kidneys now
thousand more deceased donor kidneys now
thousand more deceased donor kidneys now available for those who can’t identify a
available for those who can’t identify a
available for those who can’t identify a living kidney donor it’s a win-win yet
living kidney donor it’s a win-win yet
living kidney donor it’s a win-win yet we have never realized the full
we have never realized the full
we have never realized the full potential of living donor exchanges in
potential of living donor exchanges in
potential of living donor exchanges in this country why might you ask well
this country why might you ask well
this country why might you ask well what’s missing is one centralized
what’s missing is one centralized
what’s missing is one centralized selfless system in which every living
selfless system in which every living
selfless system in which every living donor and recipient pair participates
donor and recipient pair participates
donor and recipient pair participates and joins a movement a crusade to save
and joins a movement a crusade to save
and joins a movement a crusade to save lives
lives
lives simply put we must change the
simply put we must change the
simply put we must change the conversation we must move from an opt-in
conversation we must move from an opt-in
conversation we must move from an opt-in system in which living donor and
system in which living donor and
system in which living donor and recipient pairs only participate when
recipient pairs only participate when
recipient pairs only participate when absolutely necessary when their blood
absolutely necessary when their blood
absolutely necessary when their blood groups and tissue types don’t match to
groups and tissue types don’t match to
groups and tissue types don’t match to an opt-out system in which we assume
an opt-out system in which we assume
an opt-out system in which we assume altruism in which every living donor and
altruism in which every living donor and
altruism in which every living donor and recipient pair participates regardless
recipient pair participates regardless
recipient pair participates regardless of compatibility yes it begins by
of compatibility yes it begins by
of compatibility yes it begins by believing the best in our fellow man it
believing the best in our fellow man it
believing the best in our fellow man it begins with the assumption of altruism
begins with the assumption of altruism
begins with the assumption of altruism and igniting a movement to eliminate
and igniting a movement to eliminate
and igniting a movement to eliminate incompatibilities as barriers to live
incompatibilities as barriers to live
incompatibilities as barriers to live donor kidney transplantation it begins
donor kidney transplantation it begins
donor kidney transplantation it begins by changing the conversation from
by changing the conversation from
by changing the conversation from donating directly to your loved one to
donating directly to your loved one to
donating directly to your loved one to donating in honor of your loved one join
donating in honor of your loved one join
donating in honor of your loved one join me help me change the conversation
me help me change the conversation
me help me change the conversation help me advocate for and create a single
help me advocate for and create a single
help me advocate for and create a single national living kidney donor exchange
national living kidney donor exchange
national living kidney donor exchange thank you
”
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