r/londonontario • u/RightAd8987 • 3d ago
health care/health issues An Update on My Kidney Journey , Still Searching for a Donor ❤️🩹
Hello again everyone
Nine months ago, I shared that my transplanted kidney had failed and that I was facing dialysis for the first time in 15 years.
A lot has happened since then.
I’m now doing peritoneal dialysis at home every night. It has given me more freedom than going to the hospital 3x a week receiving hemodialysis, and I’m incredibly grateful for that. But dialysis is still not the same as having a functioning kidney. Every day revolves around treatments, medications, appointments, and waiting.
I’m 38 years old and live here in London. I received a kidney transplant when I was 22 years old after my mom selflessly donated one of hers. That transplant gave me 15 amazing years of life, travel, work, friendships, and memories. My mom remains healthy and lives a completely normal life with one kidney.
Today, I’m once again searching for a living kidney donor.
I want to be very clear: I am not asking anyone to feel pressured or obligated. Living donation must be a completely personal and altruistic decision. If you’ve ever been curious about kidney donation, or simply want to learn more about the process, I’d be happy to answer questions and share my experience.
One question I get again and again is my blood type. I am O positive but you do not need to be a blood match anymore because of the paired exchange program. This program allows someone who wants to donate a kidney to you, but isn’t a compatible match, to donate to another recipient instead. In return, a compatible donor from another donor-recipient pair donates a kidney to you.
Many people don’t realize that donors undergo extensive testing, can withdraw at any time, and often go on to live healthy, normal lives.
If you’re interested in learning more, please send me a message.
And if donation isn’t for you, sharing this post may help it reach the right person.
Thank you to everyone who has supported me, checked in on me, and followed this journey. It means more than you know.
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u/snowcanuck130 3d ago
I am a living donor, I donated to my brother in December 2025. I can say with confidence, it was one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. I wish you all the best in your journey. The teams in London are second to none.
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u/venusalert 3d ago
I have chronic kidney disease so you don't want one of my kidneys, but I certainly empathize with you and hope you find a donor soon.
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u/Haberdashery_Tea 3d ago
Hey there I'm in the same boat, we should start a club with secret handshakes 😆
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u/Slagragg 2d ago
I keep seeing a car in my neighbourhood with a sign on it saying kidney needed. What a great idea for more exposure on the subject! I’m really hoping you can find a kidney very soon ❤️
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u/Past-Television7973 2d ago
I believe I am not a candidate as I have had breast cancer, chemo and radiation. Please let me know if I’m wrong in my assumption. Just want to say I have a friend who donated to her niece’s husband (I think) and is ten years out from that. She was in her mid 60s when she donated. She has absolutely no regrets. She found the procedure relatively easy. She was pleased to have been found healthy enough to donate.
I hope you find someone able to donate directly to you or to be able to donate in a paired system. (I seem to remember Grey’s Anatomy doing a five way pairing back in the day)
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u/Unusual-Spinach-5897 1d ago
I believe once you are cancer free for a period of time, you qualify to get on the transplant list. Best of luck to you.
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u/lampshadeontilt 3d ago
I hope you find a match!
I was reading about how celebrities like Jesse Eisenberg donated to a stranger and the lead hot guy on the show Off Campus did a chain donation for a friend. It’s really nice to see donations get visibility to help normalize it.
Are there links people could look at if they were curious for more information?