Every kidney transplant recipient lives with the same quiet understanding: the pills never stop. But a new drug called tegoprubart may be about to change that conversation entirely.
Author: Chad
Chad is a writer, kidney‑transplant recipient, and long‑time Type 1 diabetic who tells the truth about chronic illness with honesty, hope, and a little humor. After eighteen months on peritoneal dialysis and a life‑changing transplant from his donor Jeff, he now uses his story to help others feel less alone in theirs. His blog blends lived experience, faith, and practical insight for anyone navigating kidney disease, diabetes, or the long road between diagnosis and healing. When he’s not advocating for organ donation or demystifying the medical maze, he’s cheering on others walking their own hard paths — one real, human moment at a time.
Kidney failure is preventable
Most people don't know their kidneys are failing. That's not a dramatic exaggeration. It's just the cruel reality of chronic kidney disease. No alarm bells. No obvious symptoms. Until one day, a routine visit turns into a conversation about dialysis.
Support System: My Dad
Through my kidney transplant, my dad stepped in with strength, humor, and a kind of love that moved things forward. This is his part of the story.
Jesse Eisenberg Explains Why He Donated His Kidney to a Complete Stranger
Jesse Eisenberg donated a kidney to a complete stranger, and his reason is simpler than you'd think. If you've ever been curious about living kidney donation, this short clip is worth your time.
Mayo Clinic announces milestone with its first robotic pancreas kidney transplant
Mayo Clinic completed its first robotic pancreas‑kidney transplant, giving Steve Canzoneri renewed health after years of diabetes complications. The minimally invasive approach helped him recover quickly and return to life with new strength.
Untethered: My First Flight Since Kidney Dialysis
Flying to Charlotte for work sounds ordinary. For someone who spent eighteen months dragging a dialysis machine into hotel rooms and giving it its own seat in the car, it was anything but. This is what traveling light actually looks like.
What to do first when diagnosed with CKD
A chronic kidney disease diagnosis can stop you cold. But here's what experts want you to know: this is not the end of your story. The people who do best aren't always the ones with the mildest disease. They're the ones who show up, ask questions, and make small, faithful changes. There are real, doable steps you can take today.
Understanding GFR and the 5 stages of CKD
A single number on a lab sheet started a conversation that changed everything. Here is what I eventually learned, and what I wish I had known from the start.
Beginnings & New Beginnings
A birthday used to be a simple circle on the calendar. Then a kidney transplant gave me a second beginning. This reflection looks at the two days that shaped my life, the gratitude that grew from them, and the gift of waking up to a future I once hoped for but could not see.
He Saved Someone Else’s Life Instead
Off-Campus star Belmont Cameli wanted to help a childhood friend by donating his kidney in 2018. When he wasn't a match, his kidney went to someone else and he ended up a link in a 14-person organ donation chain that saved seven lives.
Support System: My Mom
Chad reflects on the kind of love that shows up in the small things and ends up carrying everything. A Mother’s Day tribute to a woman whose presence changed a life.
Jon’s Kidney Failure Journey
A new father was diagnosed with kidney failure just before his daughter was born. He now spends up to 30 hours a week on dialysis and is searching for a living donor who can help him reclaim the life he wants with his family.
The Economist Who Figured Out How to Get Strangers to Save Each Other
Discover how Nobel Prize-winning economist Alvin Roth used economic theory to create kidney paired donation chains, a system that gives thousands a second chance each year. Part of an ongoing series about one man's kidney transplant journey.
Donation & Transplantation Statistics
More than 49,000 transplants changed lives in 2025, yet over 100,000 people are still waiting. With someone added to the list every 8 minutes, the need for organ, eye, and tissue donors remains urgent.
A kidney biopsy for research
A biopsy I didn’t need became a chance to give back. This is the story of how gratitude, research, and unseen generosity began my second chance.
A Stranger 2,000 Miles Away
When NYPD Sergeant Christopher Romero needed a kidney, a stranger 2,000 miles away stepped up. One selfless EMT changed everything.
Symptoms of Kidney Disease
Kidney disease often hides in plain sight, showing up through symptoms most people would never connect to their kidneys. Doctors explain the early signs your body may be sending and why catching them matters long before major damage occurs.
Six Months Post-Kidney Transplant
Half a year with Sidney the kidney: labs, laughter, unexpected energy, and the unfolding gratitude that comes from a stranger’s life‑changing yes.
YourChange™ makes a huge difference.
YourChange™ turns everyday purchases into life‑saving support for End the Wait Foundation. Small round‑ups help move us closer to ending the kidney transplant wait.
Teen with kidney disease finds donor living minutes away
Teen’s plea sparks a lifesaving connection when a stranger just minutes away becomes the perfect kidney donor, giving 13‑year‑old Elias a chance to thrive again.