Holly's Health Journey
In 2021, I received a double lung transplant that saved my life.
That gift changed everything. It gave me more time, purpose, and a deep respect for what organ donation can make possible. Since then, I have worked hard to protect my health, follow my transplant team’s instructions, and honor that gift by helping and advocating for others facing organ failure.
That gift, however, led to other consequences. The medications that help protect my transplanted lungs have damaged my kidneys.
So now I am facing a new challenge: I need a kidney transplant.
I am now preparing for dialysis while I search for a living kidney donor. Because of my transplant history, dialysis may be harder on my body than it is for many patients. That is why finding a living donor matters so much.
My blood type is O positive, which makes the search more difficult. People with type O blood can donate to many others, but we can only receive from another type O donor. That means type O kidneys are in high demand, and the wait can be especially long.
But someone does not have to be a perfect match to help me. If a donor is not a direct match, paired kidney donation may create another path. In that process, one donor can help set off a chain that allows multiple people to receive transplants.
I understand what it means to receive the gift of life. I do not take it lightly. I have protected my lung transplant with care, gratitude, and discipline, and I would do the same with a kidney.
My life is not over.
I still have work to do, people to love, advocacy to continue, and a future I am fighting to reach.
If you are even slightly curious about living kidney donation, the first step is not surgery. It is a confidential online health questionnaire reviewed by the transplant hospital. You can ask questions, learn more, and stop the process at any time.
And if donation is not right for you, sharing my story can still help.
One share by you may reach the person who can help me keep going.
— Holly
