Hello Friends,
My name is Ann Bryson. I’m 56 years old and I live in North Carolina with my loving husband and two beautiful daughters. I enjoy music, dancing, jewelry making, cooking, writing, watching old sitcom reruns and most of all, spending quality time with family and friends. As any individual, I love engaging in the beautiful simplicity of things that life that can bring. I also occasionally enjoy spending time on social media from time to time. And that is why I decided to use it as my platform to seek a live kidney donor.
In 2002, I was diagnosed with kidney disease right before the birth of my second daughter. I was excited about bringing another life into the world. And aside from dealing with the perils of a high risk pregnancy, in retrospect, I felt fine. I had no idea that my health would be in jeopardy.
In December of 2019, my life changed drastically when I was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease, which basically means that over time, my kidney disease advanced and became worse causing my kidneys to go into renal failure. Therefore, my kidneys do not work well enough to keep me alive.
ESRD is no joke. There are days when I can barely do the essentials . The things that a healthier individual might take for granted; like getting out of bed, walking up a flight of stairs or merely drinking fluids without worrying about the consequences afterward have become challenging for me. Currently, what I am facing now are treatment options that are limited to dialysis treatments or a kidney transplant. Getting regular peritoneal dialysis treatments 7 days a week for 8 hours at a time have helped my kidneys do their job and keep me alive. But a transplant would offer me more freedom and the ability to be healthier, live longer and experience more energy and to live a better quality of life.
Finding a kidney transplant is not easy. There are 100,000+ people on the waiting list for a deceased donor kidney like me. Time is not on our side. Some wait for years; many die while waiting. The average wait time is five years or more for a kidney from a deceased donor. However, there is another option; receiving a kidney from a live kidney donor.
I will be honest. Coming forth and asking a family member or a friend to consider donating a kidney to me is difficult. It took a lot for me to become transparent in this journey. After all, how do you just come out and ask someone, “Will you donate your kidney to me?” But one thing I know about myself is that I am a fighter. I fought colon cancer in 2018 and won. And so once again, the gloves are off. I’m in the fight for my life. Being transparent will greatly improve my chances of getting a transplant. I’m hopeful that my efforts will help me receive a kidney sooner and encourage others to consider helping the many people on the wait list.
You might not know a lot about living donation. There was a lot that I didn’t know before kidney disease affected my life. One fact is that living kidney donation typically lasts longer and has better function. It would also provide an opportunity for another patient like myself to join the transplant list. Understandably, the idea of organ donation, the thought of surgery and what living with one kidney would mean may be intimidating to some and intriguing to others. My goal in this journey is to dispel the myths and present the facts. Here’s some basic information about kidney donation that might surprise you. Did you know…?
As a living donor, you would still be able to live a long, healthy life with one kidney.
The recuperation period is usually fairly quick, generally two weeks.
Most donor surgery is done laparoscopically, meaning for the most part the surgery process is a tiny incision.
If you’re not a match for me, you can certainly become a match for someone else through the KPD Program. More information can be provided later.
And here’s the best part…The cost of your evaluation and surgery will be covered by my insurance. (That’s right. It’s on me. ) The hospital can give you extensive information on this.
Another great thing to know is that you will have a separate team of healthcare professionals to evaluate and discuss your health. Their job is to help you understand the risk and benefits and look out for YOUR best interests.
I know that living donation may not be right for everyone, but you can still help. Knowledge is power. Please help me spread awareness about living donation by mentioning my story on your social media platform. I would appreciate it if you help me by sharing my story with everyone you know.
Also, consider being an organ donor after death. It would be an invaluable blessing to individuals like myself and those currently on the wait list. If you would like to consider donating a kidney, I would be happy to tell you more about my story and we can explore the process of determining if you are a match for me.
Need more information? Please visit my “Apply to Be a Living Donor” page for more details.
You can also learn more about living donation on the National Kidney Foundation, (NKF) website: www.kidney.org/livingdonation or by contacting the NKF’s free confidential helpline at: 855.NFK.CARES (855.653.2273.) Or contact nfkcares@kidney.org. If you want to talk to someone who’s already donated a kidney, NFK can also help.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. If donating a kidney to me is something you would like to consider, I would be happy to tell you more about my story and explore the process of determining if you are a match for me. I still have hopes and dreams for a brighter future. I would be so appreciative if you could help me make it possible. You can follow and share information from my Instagram, @AKidney4AnnB. Thank you again for your time.
Sincerely yours,
Ann Bryson