Megan Linch

• Lead Donor Mentor
• Living Kidney Donor

Megan donated her kidney on September 14, 2021, through Penn Transplant in Philadelphia. Her story started when a friend shared a social media post about a woman named Connie in their community who needed a kidney. Connie did not have many options for living donors, as many of her family members have polycystic kidney disease (PKD).

Megan thought she would start the process, as she and Connie have the same blood type. Although they were a match, they weren’t a great one. She gave Connie a voucher, or as she called it, a “kidney coupon.” Megan’s kidney flew from Pennsylvania to California to its best match. It was transplanted in a stranger, enabling her to be free from dialysis. Her incompatible donor donated the next day and their kidney flew back to the East Coast. That same day, that recipient’s incompatible donor also donated. Three people got kidneys over those two days!

When Connie’s voucher was activated, she got a call four weeks later saying she had a match. Even though Connie didn’t get her kidney, she considers Megan her donor. On her transplant surgery day, she sent her flowers thanking her for making the day possible. She is grateful to have started a kidney chain and have helped Connie get a kidney too. Although not the way she expected to donate in the beginning, it was the best decision she made, and would do it again if her kidney grew back. Today she is grateful to be part of other people’s donation journey by being their kidney donor mentor.