Living Kidney Donor Needed

Hello,

My name is Kristin, and I am looking for a living kidney donor. I have a rare kidney disease called fibrillary glomerulopathy. Before this diagnosis, I thought I was just tired, stressed, or pushing myself too hard. I kept trying to keep going the way I always have, but this disease has changed my life in ways I never expected. Kidney disease is not just numbers on a lab report. It is exhaustion that does not go away after sleeping. It is pain, fear, appointments, bloodwork, testing, and waiting for answers. It is trying to plan your life while also wondering what your body is going to do next. It is learning that something inside you is failing, even though you still have dreams, people you love, and so much life left to live.

I am a mother, a writer, a baker, a dog lover, a camper, and someone who has always tried to keep moving forward no matter what life threw at me. I have been through a lot in my life, but I have always found a way to rebuild. I raised my daughters. I worked hard. I fed people for years through my jobs and through my own love of baking. I am currently working on building a small bakery called Sweet Without Sugar, focused on diabetic-friendly and kidney-conscious baked goods. I am also writing my memoir, because I believe my story may help someone else feel less alone. This disease has taken a lot from me. It has taken my energy. It has taken my sense of certainty. It has made simple things feel difficult. It has forced me to think about dialysis, transplant evaluations, medications, and a future I never imagined having to face. Some days I feel strong. Other days I feel scared. But I am still here, still fighting, and still trying to build a life that feels meaningful.

A new kidney would change everything for me. It would give me more time with my daughters and the people I love. It would give me the chance to grow my bakery, finish my book, travel, camp, walk trails with my dog, and live instead of just surviving from one appointment to the next. It would give me the chance to wake up with energy again. I want to be sitting outside my camper with my dog beside me, coffee in my hand, knowing I made it. I want quiet mornings, ordinary days, laughter with my family, and the freedom to make plans without kidney disease being the thing that controls every decision. A new kidney would give me hope for a future that is not ruled by fear, fatigue, or waiting for my body to fail.

I know that becoming a living donor is an extraordinary act. It is not something I take lightly. I also know that many people do not realize they can be tested, or that they may be able to help someone in a life changing way. I am sharing my story because I need help. I need a kidney transplant, and a living donor would give me the best chance at a healthier, longer, fuller life. Even if you are not able to donate, sharing my story could help it reach the person who can. Thank you for reading about me, my life, and my fight. Thank you for caring enough to consider helping me get the chance to live the life I am still fighting for.

Sincerely,

Kristin