Life has a funny way of testing us. Some challenges arrive like waves, gradually nudging us off course, while others crash into us with the force of a storm, shifting everything in their wake. My name is Don Schmidt, and for the last three years, my storm has been kidney disease. Every week, three times a week, I sit tethered to a dialysis machine for hours, fighting to hold on to the life I once knew. It is a battle, but one I am determined not to lose. However, the truth is, dialysis is not a cure—it is a stopgap. I need a kidney transplant to reclaim my life, and for that, I need help. I need compassion. I need you.
My Story: From Health to Dialysis
A little over three years ago, I found myself facing something I never imagined—kidney failure. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is often a silent attacker. You do not feel sick until you are already in deep trouble. For me, that trouble came in the form of reduced kidney function that eventually left me reliant on dialysis. I could write pages about the grueling routine: the endless hours hooked up to a machine, the restrictions on my diet, the way life shrinks when you are constantly calculating the next dialysis session. But the truth is, you adapt. You must.
Dialysis is not just physically draining; it is emotionally exhausting too. It robs you of time, energy, and any semblance of normalcy. I used to enjoy simple things—going for walks, spending time with friends, traveling—but dialysis changes that. Even planning around appointments wants to prepare for battle. This disease does not just affect me; it impacts everyone in my life. Friends, family, colleagues—they are all part of this never-ending marathon. And like any marathon, you can only run for so long before exhaustion hits.
The Reality of Dialysis: What It Takes from Me
To anyone unfamiliar with dialysis, it is hard to fully grasp the toll it takes. Three times a week, I walk into a clinic, sit in a chair, and surrender my body to the machine that filters my blood because my kidneys no longer can. Each session lasts four to five hours, hours I spend with a needle in my arm, watching my blood circulate through the dialysis machine. It is monotonous, it is painful, and sometimes, it feels utterly futile. Yet, it is my lifeline.
What dialysis does not give me is freedom. I cannot just pack up and leave for the weekend, cannot eat what I want, cannot push my body too hard without paying for it later. Everything is measured and monitored—fluid intake, potassium levels, phosphates—things most people do not even think twice about. And all the while, I am conscious of one simple, heartbreaking fact: this is not a cure. Dialysis sustains me, but it is not a replacement for healthy kidneys. A transplant is my only way out of this cycle, my only shot at reclaiming the life dialysis has slowly drained away.
Why a Living Donor?
The thing about kidney transplants is that while waiting for a deceased donor is an option, it is a long shot. The waiting list for kidneys is extensive, and with so many people in need, it can take years before you reach the top. Years I simply do not have. That is why I am here, writing this—because living donors are a faster, more effective solution. One healthy kidney from a living person can drastically change my life. You only need one kidney to live a full, healthy life, and donating your other kidney could give someone like me the chance to live again without the chains of dialysis.
But finding a living donor is not as simple as asking. It is a deeply personal decision, and one that requires immense compassion and bravery. Yet, it is possible. Thousands of people around the world have stepped forward to donate kidneys, sometimes to loved ones, sometimes to strangers. They are heroes in every sense of the word.
What a Kidney Could Mean for Me
I often daydream about what life could look like after a transplant. First, no more dialysis. Imagine the freedom of waking up and not having to schedule your day around a machine. Imagine being able to travel, to eat the foods you miss, to feel your energy come back to you. That is what a kidney could mean for me.
With a new kidney, I could get back to living—not just surviving. I could spend more time working on projects that matter to me, like my books and my blog, “The Book Kahuna Chronicles.” I could walk the paths I used to love without fear of exhaustion. I could visit friends, see unfamiliar places, and live life with the kind of spontaneity that has been missing for so long. A kidney would not just save my life—it would restore it.
How You Can Help
So, how can you help? First, consider whether kidney donation is something you could do. I know it is a big ask, but it is one that could change my life forever. And if you are not able to donate, there are still other ways to help. Share my story. Talk to people in your network. You never know who might feel moved to step forward.
I also want to make one thing clear: being a living donor does not mean you will be left to figure everything out on your own. There are resources, doctors, and coordinators who will walk you through every step of the process, ensuring your safety and well-being. Donating a kidney is a big decision, but it is one that comes with a lot of support. And for me, it would be the gift of life.
The Gift of Compassion
Compassion is the greatest gift we can offer one another. I am asking for that gift today—not just for myself, but for countless others like me who are waiting for a second chance. I know it is not easy. I know it is not something anyone can take lightly. But I also know that together, we can create miracles.
Becoming a living donor means making a lasting impact. It means saving a life, giving hope, and restoring joy. And for me, it means everything. If you have ever wondered how, you could truly make a difference in the world, this is one way. It is not every day that we have the chance to save someone’s life, but when that opportunity does arise, it is a call worth answering.
#KidneyDonation #LivingDonor #DonateKidney #KidneyTransplant #BeADonor #SaveALife #KidneyForDon #KidneyNeeded #ShareYourSpare #DonNeedsAKidney #GiveTheGiftOfLife #KidneyDonorNeeded #HelpDonSchmidt #KidneyDonationAwareness #DonateLife
I’m so sorry you’re going through this, Don! I too have CKD, and I have only one kidney. You’re right—it changes everything! I will pray you find the donation you need.
Thank you Jill. I’m hoping to get a transplant very soon.