DONOR | Karen's Story

Karen Wetzel

LIVING Kidney DONOR NEEDED

I was diagnosed with diabetes 25 years ago. I’ve suffered from various problems associated with this disease, one of them being the failure of my kidneys.

My kidney disease resulted in my leaving a job I loved. I have 3-6 months until I’m forced to make a decision regarding my dialysis. Once I’m on dialysis I won’t have the free time to spend with my family and friends. I’m hoping to find a live donor before I have to make this tough decision.

My wait for a kidney is currently 5 years. My best option is to find a live donor.

The procedure leaves minimal scaring (only a few fingernail size incisions!!) and recovery time is only 1 week.

If you choose to become a live donor, you’re helping save a life. Please share this information and raise awareness about kidney disease and live donations!

START YOUR JOURNEY

Become Karen Wetzel's Donor

If you are considering being a living donor please use links below to contact Karen Wetzel's Transplant Center. Begin by completing the donor questionnaire

Becoming a Kidney DONOR Find a Transplant Center near you

Northwestern Medicine

251 E Huron, Chicago, IL, 60611

(312) 695-0828 Email Transplant Center

Did you know?

Medical expenses for living organ donors are 100% covered, and inquires from potential donors are 100% confidential! Contact the Transplant Center to learn more about living donation.

More Donor FAQs

Share the Importance of Living Donation

There are currently 120,000 people waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant in the U.S. Of these, 100,000 await kidney transplants.

The median wait time for a kidney transplant is 3-5 years and can vary depending on health, compatibility, and where you live.

In 2014, 17,107 kidney transplants took place in the U.S. Of these, 11,570 came from deceased donors and 5,537 came from living donors.

Every 14 minutes someone is added to the kidney transplant waitlist.

A kidney from a living donor lasts longer and begins functioning more quickly than a kidney from a deceased donor.

In 1995, kidney donation became minimally invasive with a procedure called laparoscopic nephrectomy, which only requires four small incisions. Hospital stay is typically only 3 days after this operation.

Not blood type compatible with your recipient to be a living donor? Kidney Paired Donation (the “kidney swap” program) enables incompatible candidates with a living donor to receive a kidney from a compatible donor.

Last year, over 700 living donor kidney transplants occurred using Kidney Paired Donation.