My Kidney Story

Dear family and friends:

Some of you may know that I have kidney disease. Over time, my kidney disease has gotten worse causing my kidneys not to work well enough to keep me alive. 

I’m currently receiving dialysis treatments 2 times a week. I am grateful these treatments are keeping me alive, but they significantly decrease my quality of life and are hard on my body and other organs if done for a long period of time. A transplant will offer me more freedom and the ability to live a longer, healthier, more normal life. A transplant will also give me more time to do the fun things I enjoy most, like spending time with my family and friends. 

My daughter is currently planning for a June 2024 wedding which is very important to me. I would also love to have the opportunity to meet my future grandchildren. My son lives in Florida and we very much enjoy being able to spend time together with him. Dialysis has made travelling to see him a bit of a challenge. Family and friends describe me as a loving, caring, generous person who always puts others before myself. My Catholic faith was instilled in me at a very young age thanks to my parents. We grew up believing that God comes first, family second. I enjoy participating in and volunteering at parish functions as well as spending time helping at the parish school where my daughter currently teaches. I feel very fortunate that I can give back and a new kidney will allow me to continue doing this important work.

I have worked extremely hard to take care of my body to avoid needing a kidney transplant. I have completely changed my diet based on doctor and dietician recommendations. I exercise regularly and never miss an appointment or treatment. Despite all the things that I have done, my kidneys have failed, and I need a transplant.

Finding a kidney for a transplant is not easy. Just ask the 100,000+ people on the waiting list for a donor kidney like me. Time is not on our side. Some wait for years, 13 people a day die while waiting. The average wait time is five years or more for a kidney from a deceased donor.  However, there is another option and solution to this problem – a living donor.

You might not know a lot about living donation - I know I didn’t before kidney disease affected my life. Living kidney donors can live a full, healthy life with just one kidney. Research shows that the life expectancy of a living donor is longer than the average person. Surgeries are typically done laparoscopically, and most donors go home 24-48 hours after surgery. All costs for testing and surgery are covered by my insurance.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story…I am so grateful! I know living donation may not be right for everyone — but you can still help! Consider being an organ donor after death and, help me by sharing my story with everyone you know. At the very least I want to bring awareness to kidney disease and living donation. I am hopeful my efforts will help me receive a kidney sooner and encourage others to consider helping the many people on the wait list.

To begin the testing process on my behalf, please contact Breanna at The Christ Hospital directly at 513-585-1427 or breanna.bronson@TheChristHospital.com.

If you have any questions and would like to reach me directly, please email me at pk@fuse.net.

Thank you!  

With love and blessings,

Amy Kindt