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.
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.
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.
Give the gift of life through living organ donation
Living organ donation offers a life‑changing gift for people waiting on kidney and liver transplants. With thousands on waitlists nationwide, donors can shorten wait times, prevent long stretches on dialysis, and give someone a chance to heal sooner. Learn how living donation works and why it matters.
The Kidney Collective Podcast
The Kidney Collective™, a podcast launched by AKF in August 2025 gives an intimate voice to the many facets of living with kidney disease.
Did you know?
A personal look at the ten things I wish I had known before kidney failure, shared through real experiences that reveal the hope, complexity, and humanity behind kidney disease.
Easter and my kidney transplant
A personal reflection on Easter, grace, and the life‑altering gift of a kidney transplant. This is the story of two donors, one cross‑match chain, and the kind of love you can never repay. Only receive.
A Stunt to Raise Awareness
Brazilian businessman Chiquinho Scarpa shocked the world by announcing he would bury his Bentley, only to turn the moment into a powerful call for organ donation.
National Donate Life Month
National Donate Life Month (NDLM) was established by Donate Life America and its partnering organizations in 2003. Observed in April each year, National Donate Life Month helps raise awareness about donation, encourages Americans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to honor those who have saved lives through the gift of donation.
Medical Illiteracy
A look at how confusing medical language can leave patients feeling lost, and how small acts of courage can help us reclaim clarity in our own care.
When the Donor Match Isn’t Perfect, a Chain Can Be
A personal look at how paired kidney donation creates life-changing connections. This is the story of how a transplant chain made my second chance possible, and how one yes can ripple through countless lives.
World Kidney Day (March 12, 2026)
World Kidney Day raises global awareness about kidney health, encourages early detection, and promotes prevention and treatment of kidney disease worldwide.
Things I Thought Were Big Deals Before I Needed a Kidney
A look back at the minor frustrations I once treated as some sort of crisis and how kidney failure changed my sense of what truly matters.