My Story
My name is Brian, and my story is one of second chances, unexpected battles, and a hope that refuses to quit. I’m a husband, a son, a friend, and someone who has spent most of his life trying to show up for the people I love. What I never expected was that I would one day need to ask for help in a way this big.
An Early Journey
My journey, as cliché as it sounds, really does start at birth. I was born with several congenital issues that affected my kidneys. I entered the world with only one functioning kidney — the other had become calcified in utero. For many people, living with one kidney is completely manageable, whether due to birth defects, donation, or injury. But in my case, there was more happening beneath the surface.
Thanks to a keen‑eyed pediatrician, we discovered that my remaining kidney was also in danger. The ureter — the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder — hadn’t formed correctly. Instead of draining properly, urine flowed backward into the kidney, causing damage over time.
From birth until age 12, I underwent multiple procedures and surgeries to stabilize that kidney. We did everything we could, and for a while, it worked. But unlike the liver, kidneys don’t regenerate. Once they’re damaged, they continue to decline.
By 2002, while my classmates were experiencing the freedom and excitement of college life, I was beginning peritoneal dialysis. It’s a simple process to explain: a port is placed in your abdomen, fluid fills the abdominal cavity, and through that exchange, waste products are removed from the body. I did my treatments overnight while I slept, which allowed me to continue my studies and try to live as normally as possible.
A Gift That Changed Everything
As my kidney function continued to decline, my family stepped into the storm with me. My Aunt Theresa — one of the most generous people I know — volunteered to be tested. We were a match. In July 2003, she gave me her kidney, and with it, she gave me time, health, and the chance to build a life.
For more than 21 years, I honored that gift. I lived, worked, loved, and built a life I’m proud of. My aunt is doing wonderfully today — healthy, active, and living her life fully. Her donation didn’t just save me once; it shaped two decades of my life.
A New Chapter, A New Need
But even the strongest gift can grow tired. After 21 years, my transplanted kidney has reached the end of its life simply due to age. I am now living with end‑stage kidney disease again. Dialysis keeps me alive, but it cannot give me the future I’m fighting for — a future with my wife, my family, and the life we’re building together.
This season of my life is full of joy and new beginnings. I recently married the love of my life, and together we are building a home filled with laughter, faith, and hope. But behind that joy is a reality I can’t ignore: I need another kidney to survive.
A Hopeful Ask
Asking for help like this is vulnerable. It’s humbling. But it’s also hopeful. Because I believe in the goodness of people. I believe someone out there might feel a tug on their heart — a quiet sense that they could be the one to step into this story.
I’m not looking for perfection. I’m looking for someone healthy, willing, and open to learning what living donation truly means. Most donors go on to live completely normal lives with one kidney, and the evaluation process is confidential, safe, and without pressure.
If you’re reading this, thank you. Even taking a moment to learn about my journey means more than you know. My hope is simple: that this page reaches the right person at the right time.
If you feel called to explore becoming a donor — or even just want to ask questions — I’d be grateful to connect.
A Kidney for Brian 