This birthday tribute celebrates Jeff Derby, a friend whose courage and generosity set a kidney cross match in motion that transformed my life. His faith, curiosity, and steady support shaped a story that continues to impact more people than he may ever realize.
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.
If My Kidney Could Text
If my kidney could text, it would narrate my entire day with dramatic flair, caffeine-fueled side eye, and the kind of emotional intensity only a fragile but determined organ can deliver.
Showing Support – A Guide for Family & Friends
A reflection on what it truly means to support someone living with kidney disease, dialysis, or the long wait for a transplant. Small acts of care can change everything.
What I Want Other Kidney Patients to Know
A gentle, hope-filled reflection for anyone living with kidney disease, dialysis, or the long wait for a transplant. These words offer comfort, courage, and the reminder that you are not walking this road alone.
Waiting for a Kidney Donor
This is the story of how waiting for a kidney donor reshaped me from the inside out. Through dialysis, uncertainty, and the stretches of hope, I discovered strength, faith, and a new way of receiving life.
This Time Last Year…
A reflective New Year’s look at a year shaped by healing, generosity, and the life‑changing gift of a kidney transplant, honoring both Jeff and the donor who made a second chance possible.
The TV Show I Never Auditioned For
This post follows my kidney journey through the lens of my favorite TV shows and others. From diagnosis to dialysis to transplant and recovery, it is a story of fear, humor, resilience, and the surprising ways pop culture can help us make sense of the hardest chapters in life.
First Kidney Transplant (1954)
A brief history of the first successful living‑donor kidney transplants, from early attempts in Paris in 1952 to the groundbreaking 1954 Boston procedure between identical twins that earned Joseph Murray a Nobel Prize.
My Overachieving, Introverted Kidney
This is the story of Sidney, the overachieving and introverted kidney who arrived and changed everything.
Kidney donation sparks transplant chain
Five people received new kidneys this month thanks to a donation chain that began with an Ohio sheriff.
Two Months Post-Kidney Transplant
Two months after my kidney transplant, life is opening up again. Medications are shifting, scars are fading, and I am finding my way back to myself through writing, small freedoms, and the victories.
Anti-Rejection Medications 101
A look at the serious world of immunosuppressants, BK virus surprises, and the daily balancing act every kidney transplant recipient knows well. This classroom-style post breaks it down.
Recipient meets anonymous donor
After years of dialysis and uncertainty, a North Carolina woman finally met the stranger who gave her a second chance at life.
How Creativity Is Helping Me Heal
A space where healing, creativity, and lived experience meet. This post explores what it means to rebuild a life after my transplant, find meaning in the mess, and let storytelling become part of the recovery.
New Blog Post Category: Kidney Humor
A space for laughter, parody, and lighthearted blog posts on the hardworking bean‑shaped heroes inside us.
Life After My Kidney Transplant
Life after transplant is a new normal filled with gratitude, humor, resilience, and hope in everyday victories.
Kidney Job Interview
Sidney the kidney interviews for Life Support Specialist, showcasing resilience, teamwork, and purpose in an organ‑world parody.
Dating Match Profile for Sidney
Sidney the kidney: A+ blood type, transplant‑ready, thriving 24/7, seeking the perfect match to excel at labs, hydration, and second chances.
Kidney Stand‑Up Routine
A kidney takes the mic for a comedy set, riffing on hydration, caffeine, and salt. Turning kidney transplant life into laughter and gratitude.