Donor Diaries
Donor Diaries is a podcast that delves into the beauty and complexity of living organ donation. Tune in to hear extraordinary stories of people who choose to share their organs and give the gift of life. The world of kidney and organ donation is a powerful testament to kindness, love, and the human spirit.
With over 90,000 individuals on the kidney transplant waitlist and about 13 people dying each day while waiting, the urgency is real. One in three Americans is at risk for chronic kidney disease, and one in nine already suffers from it, often unknowingly.
Donor Diaries offers unfiltered narratives from living donors and candid insights from transplant experts, aiming to elevate the conversation around organ donation. Our goal is to bring this crucial issue to the forefront, so no patient has to wait in vain or suffer needlessly.
Donor Diaries
Kidney Manifesting | EP 3
In most cases, when someone steps forward as a living donor, nobody actually asks them to donate a kidney. Usually, the donor hears the story of someone needing a kidney and makes the decision to donate without being asked.
The Living Kidney Donors Network (LKDN) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization established in 2007 by Harvey Mysel whose primary mission is to educate people in need of a kidney transplant about living kidney donation and help them communicate their need to family members and friends. LKDN also has a program that educates the public about the need for living kidney donors.
Harvey is a 2-time kidney transplant recipient. After proactively managing an inherited kidney condition, PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease) for over 20 years he had his first kidney transplant in February 2007. He was fortunate that his wife Amy was a compatible donor.
Harvey contracted a virus, (BK Virus,) 2 years after his transplant and after years of battling this virus, in August 2012 he had his second kidney transplant. Harvey and his donor, Stephen Liegghio, who was introduced to Harvey by an advocate, were involved in a 3-way kidney paired exchange.
Most kidney donors donate to someone they know and patients need to first have the knowledge about living kidney transplants and learn how to develop their kidney campaign so they could be effective in communicating their need. The FREE online program Having Your Donor Find YOU! does just that.
In addition to the work he does at the LKDN, Harvey is a tri-athlete, competing in a triathlon 5 months after his first transplant. He is a 3-time Gold Medal winner and Silver medalist in the Transplant Games. Harvey is an accomplished bicycle rider, tennis player, platform tennis player, bowler, hiker and rock climber.
Episode Links
Donor Diaries
Living Kidney Donors Network
Northwestern Kidney Champion Program
National Kidney Donor Organization
Johns Hopkins COVID/kidney Recipient Study
Donor Diaries Website
Donor Diaries on Facebook
GiftWorks Website
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