Stories of Hope
Steve
In December of 1995, Steve went to see his doctor after feeling extremely ill. Early in the New Year, he was diagnosed with not one but several chronic conditions—lupus, high blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis and recurring asthma. Before these medical tests, Steve was unaware that he had been born with only one kidney. Lupus was attacking his lone kidney, making his condition not only serious, but life threatening.
Steve began dialysis treatments, going to the clinic every other day to have his blood cleaned by the dialysis machine. His kidney function improved slightly, but in 1998, the organ finally gave out. His veins were also deteriorating from the grueling dialysis treatments. Steve prepared himself to join the long list of patients waiting for kidney transplants. But just before he joined the list, Steve’s three brothers, Harold, Albert and Douglass, decided to get tested as potential living donors. Harold, a Lieutenant for the Denver Fire Department, was the first to get tested. Fortunately, he was a match! Harold donated a kidney to Steve on January 13, 1999. Steve relates,
“Fortunately, I have not suffered any recurring kidney-related issues, and—amazingly—no rejection episodes.”
Steve and Harold will celebrate the 16th anniversary of their transplant in 2015. They intend to celebrate many more.
More Stories
Sherri & Calvin
Sometimes the ‘perfect match’ isn’t about finding love—it’s about giving life. Meet Sherri and Calvin of Aurora, Colo. Calvin is a kidney and two-time liver recipient. Thanks to the generosity of a donor and their family, Sherri was given 10 more precious years with her husband Calvin following his first life-saving kidney transplant. When Calvin […]
Jason
In 2009, Jason’s life took a dramatic turn. Once healthy and active, he found himself fighting for survival in just one month. What started as mild cold symptoms quickly worsened. After seeking medical attention, Jason was diagnosed with a rare strain of pneumonia. Within four weeks, his condition deteriorated further, leading to congestive heart failure—a […]
Julia
Julia, a heart recipient from Thornton, Colo., embodies the transformative power of donor recipient stories. Thanks to the selfless decisions of two heart donors, she lives a life filled with purpose and possibility. Born with dilated cardiomyopathy, Julia faced immense challenges from an early age. Her first heart transplant in 2008 gave her the chance […]