Hello! I’m Karen Brown. My worsening kidney disease requires a transplant for a chance at a healthier life. Your potential donation could save my life.
As a first step, to determine if you are medically able to donate, click here to start the donor screening process.
Your kindness means everything as I seek a living donor.
With heartfelt gratitude, Karen.
Why I Need a Kidney
Over the last two years my kidney disease has worsened, causing my kidneys not to work well enough to keep me alive. Sadly, this is what I am facing now, and my health care options are limited to dialysis treatments or a kidney transplant. I have had family and friends come forward. Thank you. However, I have not been able to find a suitable donor.
Getting regular dialysis treatments, usually three times a week for up to eight hours at a time, will help my kidneys do their job and keep me alive, but a transplant would offer me the ability to live a longer, healthier life and the chance to continue to enjoy the activities I love, such as spending time with my son, family, the Ministry and my non-for profit , SMILE that supports single mothers by improving their lives through education.
How You Can Help?
Living Donor Program
By sharing my story to your group of family and friends, you help to increase the number of people who may consider kidney donation.
You can also support me and other patients in need of a transplant by being screened to become a kidney donor with the University Health Network. The process is easy to complete and potential donors have access to the UHN’s robust donor support network.
Kidney Paired Donation
Kidney paired donation is a program that matches transplant candidates with suitable living donors. It gives people the chance to become a living kidney donor while ensuring that someone they want to help receives a needed kidney, even if they are not a direct match. Canada’s Kidney Paired Donation program is run by Canadian Blood Services, working with the living kidney donation and kidney transplant programs across the country.
Why a Living Donation matters?
Testimonials of those who went through the screening process and stories from family and friends.
Denise Thompson
Cousin
Monica Rusnak
Donor Champion
Roz Gerdis
Donor Champion
About Donation
A living donation happens when a person who is alive gives either a kidney or a part of their liver to someone with end-stage kidney or liver disease.
Who can be Living Donor?
- A living kidney or liver donor could be a spouse, family member, friend, co-worker or stranger.
- Older than 16 years of age for liver donation;
- Older than 18 years of age for kidney donation;
- A healthy weight for their height;
- In good health without diabetes, cancer, kidney or heart disease;
- and willing to freely donate.
Who cannot be Living Donor?
- Person younger than 18 years of age
- Confirmed diagnosis of Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes
- History of Melanoma (a type of skin cancer)
- Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 35 kg/m2. Calculate your BMI
- History of heart bypass surgery, heart attack, cardiac stents or a stroke
Support & Protections Available to Donors
Cost Reimbursement
travel & lodging, and lost wages
Reduced Wasted Time
streamlined donation process
Best Match
maximize the impact of your donation
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