At the UPMC, we strive to make a positive difference in each person we treat.
During a stressful time full of decisions and next steps, we hope that the success stories of previous patients will help you focus on the impact that a kidney transplant can have on your quality of life.
Note: These patients' treatment and results may not be representative of all similar cases.
As an only child growing up alongside her aunt Denise, Stephanie considered her more of a sister than an aunt. When Stephanie learned that Denise needed a kidney transplant, her response was to take action and begin the living donor evaluation process.
When Erin Wheeler's kidney, donated by her father when she was 10, began to fail, her mother, Julia Catalano, attempted to donate her kidney. However, they were not a match. This sparked a chain of donations: a stranger, Eve Alden, donated a kidney to Wheeler, which enabled Catalano to donate hers to another stranger. As a result, six people have received transplants.
Living-kidney donors can be friends, family members, or even complete strangers. Check out this story that features six people who took part in a living-donor kidney exchange at UPMC, which resulted in a domino of giving and lifesaving care for everyone involved.
Adan, a mathematics teacher from Manheim, Pa., needed a kidney transplant after his kidneys failed in 2021. His partner, Kendy, offered to become his living donor and the pair had a successful transplant at UPMC Harrisburg.
One night, after a long day of taking care of patients, Adnan woke up with severe abdominal pain. He was admitted to UPMC Passavant where doctors found three clots in the artery connected to his small intestine. He was immediately rushed into emergency surgery. He was successfully treated for that condition, but the medicine he took for his heart was damaging his kidneys. He needed a kidney transplant.
After a routine bloodwork appointment to renew his commercial driver’s license, Don received shocking results – he had stage 4 kidney disease. A few years after he was placed on the national kidney transplant list, he received a call from UPMC Harrisburg that a deceased-donor kidney was available and underwent surgery the next day.
Marsha was diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension, which led to end stage renal disease. While going through dialysis, Marsha's coordinator shared that she could be a good candidate for a transplant. After learning about Living-Donor Kidney Transplant at UPMC, Marsha's adopted daughter, Katie, stepped up to be her living donor.
After her father received a life-saving liver transplant, Heather decided to pay it forward and anonymously donate her liver or kidney, whichever was needed first, though the UPMC Transplant Services program. A few weeks later, she received a call and learned that her kidney was a match for a man she never met.
Kian’s father was diagnosed with kidney disease when she was just two. It was difficult watching him struggle with health issues as she grew up, and Kian promised him that one day she would save his life. Kian had that opportunity years later when she became his living donor.
Kristen McCurdy was 17 when she underwent her first kidney transplant. It was a successful surgery and her new kidney lasted nearly 19 years, but in August 2016, Kristen found out her kidney function was once again declining.
Mike Thomas was no stranger to transplant in 2017, when he was told he would need his third transplant. Luckily, he had a generous living donor who had waited for 13 years to donate her kidney to him.
Rebekah first learned about living donation when one of her students needed a kidney and liver transplant. After hearing their story Rebekah felt compelled to become a living donor and donated a portion of her liver and a kidney to two individuals whom she had never met.
While working as a phlebotomist in Peru, Soledad was drawing her own blood for a routine lab test and realized her creatinine level was rising - an indicator of kidney disease. After this discovery she moved to the United States to have access to better care and support from her family. She met with the UPMC Harrisburg Transplant Services team and was placed on the transplant list until her father asked to be evaluated as a potential donor.
Since being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 9, Suzan struggled to manage her disease and side effects. Dealing with high blood sugar can lead to many complications. In adulthood, Suzan was diagnosed with the beginning stages of kidney disease and diabetic retinopathy, leading her to the UPMC Kidney Transplant Program at UPMC Harrisburg.
After a routine primary care appointment, 20-year-old Taylor received startling blood test results. She was diagnosed with Stage 5 of chronic kidney disease (CKD). She received a kidney transplant and was still able to graduate college on time with high honors.
Tim Coles suffered from congestive heart failure in 2017. After a visit with his doctor, he learned that his kidneys had taken significant damage. As his kidney health declined, Tim was diagnosed with end-stage renal failure and began dialysis. The Coles traveled to UPMC Montefiore in Pittsburgh from Rochester, NY, to explore the option of a living-donor kidney transplant.
Due to a hereditary condition called Alport syndrome, Veronica needed a kidney transplant. Weeks before the surgery was scheduled the transplant program at the Hershey hospital was inactivated. Her case was then transferred to UPMC Harrisburg. Read more about her experience at UPMC.
At age 69, with her husband and family behind her, Wanda Wilson made one of the most important decisions of her life – to become a living-kidney donor for her niece, Jody.
Elliott was born with a rare genetic disorder called oral-facial-digital syndrome type 1 (OFD1). Due to this syndrome, his kidneys were not formed normally. 18 years after Elliot's first kidney transplant he experienced a smoldering rejection of his kidney, leaving Elliot's mother to search for a hospital that would accept his high risk case. After being rejected by many hospitals, their hopes were low, until they met with the UPMC Kidney Transplant Program.
As a man who enjoys building hot rods, Duane knows it takes time to put all the right pieces into place before running at full capacity. Whether it’s his 1966 Chevy or his health, the bigger picture always has been in plain sight, along with patience and an overall appreciation for the people who have helped him along the way.
Kelly was diagnosed with kidney disease after having unexplained high blood pressure for two years as a young adult, along with fatigue and nausea. She was told she had IgA Nephropathy. Furthermore, the deterioration of her kidneys was happening fast, and she ended up on peritoneal dialysis for 10 months before her first transplant at age 27. Kelly felt fortunate that her husband was able to be her donor.
After moving from Mexico, Victor taught at a charter school until his retirement. After retiring and being diagnosed with kidney disease he received a kidney donation.
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