Donor Search Success Stories

Ahead of this weekend’s Kidney Walk, a family share their story of a Colorado Springs boy in need of a kidney transplant receiving help from a special donor.

Right now, there are more than 100-thousand Americans on the national transplant waiting list. One northwest Iowa man spent years on that list but now is on the road to recovery thanks to a friendship formed over an old car that led to a life-saving gift.

Forever connected: Longtime Thurston County tourism promoter given new kidney and lease on life from Rochester real estate agent Diane Weaver Simms.

When his friend’s life was on the line, a San Diego man answered the call and donated his kidney despite living about 2,000 miles away in Wisconsin.

Suzanne Perry is on a mission to find a kidney donor, and she’s not shy about sharing her story. “I have kidney failure. I had a cancerous tumor on one kidney. The other kidney is fading very quickly because of dialysis,” said Perry.

Inside Christ Church of Neodesha, a remarkable story of faith, friendship, and selflessness is changing lives. Chris Vannice, a longtime member of the church, faced a daunting health challenge requiring a kidney transplant after years of struggling with health issues.

Luna Miller is too young to know it yet, but on Sept. 1, the 2-year-old met the stranger who gave her perhaps the most extraordinary gift she will ever receive—a kidney.

Chrissy Zbylut never expected that a high school softball teammate would one day save her life.

While listening to the public radio show “Freakonomics,” Amy Stricherz was caught by a segment discussing altruistic donors — who choose to donate a kidney though they don’t have a loved one who needs one. Amy thought, “I can do that.”

Francie Foster has known for years who chef Josh Rathbun was. But Foster didn’t really start getting to know the chef personally until she decided to give him one of her kidneys.