Picture this.
You’re about to take a road trip — but not the fun kind with snacks, playlists, and questionable gas‑station coffee.
Nope. This is the Road Trip From Hell.Once you hit “start,” you’re stuck.
No bathroom breaks.
No stretching your legs.
No pulling over because you suddenly remembered you left the dryer running.
No escape route.For the next four hours, you’re locked in.Welcome to home dialysis — the road trip where I’m the driver, the passenger, the mechanic, and the emergency roadside assistance… all at once.Before I even start, I have to pack like I’m going on a cross‑country adventure:
supplies, needles, lines, meds, snacks, chargers, distractions, and the mental pep talk of a man about to climb a mountain with one shoe.Because once I’m connected, that’s it.
I’m committed.
I’m on the highway with no exits, no rest stops, and definitely no “Are we there yet?”
(Trust me, I’ve asked.)But here’s the twist:
Even on the worst road trips, there’s always something that keeps you going — a good song, a good laugh, or the hope that the next mile will be better than the last.For me, that hope is a living kidney donor.A transplant would mean freedom — real freedom.
No more four‑hour road trips.
No more alarms.
No more needles.
Just life.
Life with my wife.
Life with my family.
Life beyond the machine.So yeah, the road trip from hell is real.
But so is my hope.
And so is the possibility that someone out there — maybe even someone reading this — could be the person who helps me finally pull over, stretch my legs, and breathe again.If you want to learn more or see if you could be a match, visit:www.akidney4brian.comOne kidney. One change. One life.If you want,
Tag: living donor search
My Story Was Featured — and My Search Continues
I’m incredibly grateful to share that my journey has been featured in the Genesee Valley Penny Saver in an article titled “A Journey of Hope: Brian’s Story of Living Donation.”
This piece captures not just my medical story, but the heart of what I’m fighting for — a second chance at life through a living kidney donor.
👉 Read the full article here:
https://www.gvpennysaver.com/stories/personal/a-journey-of-hope-brian-s-story-of-living-donation/article_81b6dc2c-abf3-4741-9c14-4feb82759c10.html
For more than 20 years, the kidney my aunt gave me allowed me to live, work, love, and build a life I’m proud of. Now, as that kidney reaches the end of its journey, I’m doing everything I can to stay strong — cardiac rehab, diet changes, meditation, and a whole lot of hope — while I search for the person who might be willing to step into this story with me.
Every share, every conversation, every person who learns about living donation brings me one step closer to finding that match.
If you’ve ever wondered what living donation means, or how one person can change a life, I invite you to read the article, share it, and learn more at akidney4brian.com.
My journey continues — and so does my hope.
Getting in Shape for a Living Donor
When I received the gift of a kidney from my aunt — truly a gift of life — I was healthy and strong. But as time goes on, genetics, medications, and life itself start to shape your health in ways you don’t expect.
At 24, I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.At 26, diabetes.At 30, I had a heart attack.
Over the years, thanks to anti‑rejection medications, lifestyle factors, and genetics, the list of ICD‑10 codes attached to my chart kept growing. This isn’t unusual for long‑term transplant patients who are monitored closely. Sometimes it feels like every doctor visit adds a new code.
For those not in the medical world, ICD‑10 codes are the standardized labels used to describe diagnoses, conditions, and reasons for medical visits. They’re the shorthand of the healthcare system — and for “professional patients” like me, they become a kind of medical autobiography.
Now at 45, my ICD‑10 list is about a page and a half long. Everything from allergies to dependence on dialysis (Z99.2) and everything in between.
So the real question becomes:How do I make sure that, with all of this, I can survive — and thrive — after a future kidney transplant?
Right now, I’m focused on the things I can control:
Cardiac rehab — keeping my heart as strong as possible
Diet changes — slowing the buildup of toxins between treatments
Meditation — staying centered and grounded through the stress of chronic illness
These aren’t cures, and they don’t replace medical care, but they’re part of how I prepare my body and mind for the day I receive another life‑changing gift: a living kidney donor.
I’m doing everything I can to be ready.I’m hoping someone out there feels called to help.And I’m holding onto the belief that my story isn’t finished yet.
Summer Days, Indoor Life
Summer looks different when you’re a dialysis patient.
With a strict 32 ounces of fluid a day, the heat and humidity aren’t just uncomfortable — they can be dangerous. When your body can’t freely take in fluids, it also can’t cool itself the way it should. That means even short periods outside in high temperatures can raise the risk of overheating and heat stroke, something I have to take seriously every single day.
As the weather warms up, my world naturally shifts indoors. While others enjoy long summer afternoons, I’m often inside during the hottest hours, staying cool, staying safe, and managing a body that plays by different rules.
But this isn’t just about summer.It’s about why I’m sharing my story at all.
After 21 years with the kidney my Aunt Theresa generously gave me, it has begun to fail simply due to age. Dialysis keeps me alive, but it also limits my life — from how much I can drink to how long I can safely be outside on a warm day.
I’m now searching for a living kidney donor — someone healthy, willing, and open to learning what living donation really means. Most donors go on to live completely normal lives with one kidney, and the screening process is confidential, safe, and without pressure.
If you feel a tug on your heart, or even just curiosity, I’d be grateful to connect.Your willingness to learn could be the beginning of a second chance at life for me.
This is summer for me.This is dialysis life.And this is why I’m searching for the person who might help change it.