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Transplant Stories Blog Posts Press Releases News Articles

Get insights on living kidney donor transplants, including the donation and transplant process, what to expect, and answers to common questions. Read powerful stories from recipients about finding a donor and how their transplant changed their lives.

Transplant Stories

My Coach Helped Me Stay Calm, Informed, and Hopeful: Linda Lebowitz’s Kidney Transplant Story

May 22, 2026

I am a kidney transplant recipient thanks to the incredible support of the National Kidney Registry (NKR). I was adopted as a newborn, and my family had no idea that I had polycystic kidney disease (PKD). I didn’t learn about my diagnosis until I was in my 30s, after my young son began showing symptoms and doctors traced the condition back to me. Years later, in my 60s, my kidney…

If Someone in Another Country Wants to Donate a Kidney for Me, Are They Eligible for Donor Shield?

July 24, 2026

If you need a kidney transplant and have a friend or family member living in another country who is willing to donate, you may be wondering if international donation is possible, and whether your potential donor can receive financial assistance for donation-related expenses. International donor candidates may be able to donate on your behalf through the National Kidney Registry (NKR) and receive reimbursement for donation-related travel expenses through International Donor…

The National Kidney Registry Announces New Microsite Center: Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center

July 21, 2026

The National Kidney Registry (NKR) is pleased to welcome its newest microsite center: Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, New Jersey. A total of 65 transplant centers nationwide now participate in the NKR’s Microsite Program. The Microsite Program provides free websites and coaching to transplant patients seeking a living donor to increase their chances of achieving a living donor transplant. To date, more than 1,449 microsite patients have received a…

Bijou Phillips undergoes kidney transplant after urgent plea

July 8, 2026

Bijou Phillips revealed she underwent a successful kidney transplant after a February appeal for a donor, with her brother providing the organ through a paired‑exchange program.