Donor Search Success Stories

When Abel Linares’ kidney was failing, his two older daughters tried to help by donating their kidneys — but only his youngest daughter was a match.

Marshall County band teacher Nathan Haskew chose to donate a kidney to a friend, Stephen McClendon, a fellow deacon at Albertville First Baptist Church. McClendon’s kidneys started to shut down years ago when he returned from a mission trip in Texas.

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.