© 2022 Simon Says Seminars, inc.| TransplantStrong

Donating A Kidney In Advance of Need = Lives Squared

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Donating A Kidney In Advance Holds Potential To Save Multiple Lives.

Here’s an unprecedented concept that encourages more people to become living kidney donors. It’s called the Advanced Donation Program. It was developed to allow healthy individuals to consider donating a kidney in advance of when a friend or family member might need one. In other words, a potential living kidney donor could donate a kidney at a time that is more optimal for their schedule or candidacy, while still protecting the future needs of their intended recipient.

The New York Times described this concept akin to a gift certificate, layaway plan or voucher program. Call it what you want. The most exciting thing about this innovative program, initiated by Dr. Jeffery Veale, a transplant surgeon at Ronald Reagan’s UCLA’s Medical Center, is that it has the potential to help more than one person, in between a pause in time.

This revolutionary concept was suggested by Howard Broadman, a 64-year-old attorney and retired judge who lives in Laguna Niguel, California. Broadman approached UCLA with the desire of donating a kidney to a stranger now so he could provide his grandson some assurances for when he would need one in the future.  And that’s exactly what he did.

Broadman’s donation essentially gives his grandson “earned protection credit” and priority towards his future donor needs. This, notwithstanding the potential to help two or more people in other time-lapsed paired exchanges.    

Donating a kidney in advance can also come into play when a major anticipated life event — such as vacations, employment restrictions or family matters could potentially restrict donors from moving forward. I personally experienced this when a friend was ready to donate before I my renal function reached transplant eligibility. By the time I was ready, my friend had an employment change and was no longer able to donate. In this program he could have helped a stranger altruistically when he was most eager to do so, while still protecting my future needs.

Program Overview:

The National Kidney Registry’s Advanced Donation Program (ADP) is a paired exchange separated in time. This program allows medically and psychosocially acceptable donors to donate their kidney before their intended recipient needs a kidney. The timing of this program helps someone in need today while also protecting their intended recipient, by advancing them to transplant at their time of need. Some ADP donors have donated only a few weeks before their intended recipient was transplanted. Other ADP donors may be donating 10 plus years before their intended recipient needs a transplant; and some donate in the hope that their intended recipient will never need a transplant (or another transplant). It should be noted that there are no written guarantees. This stands to reason, as guarantees cannot apply in situations that would be beyond the control of such a guarantee—(i.e.; recipient health, challenging antibody levels and transplant candidacy).

Ultimately, when the intended recipient redeems his or her gift certificate, the last donor in a current chain would donate their kidney to them. 

Nine other transplant centers across the U.S. have agreed to offer the gift certificate program, under the umbrella of the National Kidney Registry’s advanced donation program.  These centers currently include: UCLA, Emory, New York Presbyterian, UCSF, University of Maryland, University of Wisconsin, Cleveland Clinic, University of Chicago, Allegheny General, Sharp Memorial and Virginia Transplant Center.

  • 30 million people with chronic kidney disease in the U.S., – strong candidates for the innovative new program.
  • 500,000 people in the U.S. with a functioning kidney transplant, but the transplants typically last for just 10 to 20 years. They are also strong candidates for this program should a second transplant is needed.

The TransplantFirst Academy hopes the program will eventually go a step further by addressing the needs of people who fear if they help someone today, they might not be able to help a spouse or a child in the future. The design of this program provides some assurances and “peace of mind” surrounding those unknowns. Ultimately, the hope is that Advanced Donation will encourage more altruistic donors to step forward, which will trigger more chains and save more lives.

If Just 0.5 Percent of The Nation’s Adults Became Living Kidney Donors, Our Kidney Transplant Waiting List Would Be Eliminated 15 Times Over.

Nationwide effort to expand post-donation benefits to living organ donors

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LIVING ORGAN DONORS RECEIVE FREE TELEMEDICINE BENEFITS TO GIVE LIVING DONORS ADDITIONAL MEDICAL PROTECTION
Healthtera, a supplemental health benefits company, that offers 24/7 telemedicine solutions powered by HealthiestYou (HY), announced the roll-out of its Living Donor Family Sharing Program to support the courageous individuals who have gave a piece of themselves to save someone’s life. This first-ever program is a nationwide effort to expand post-donation benefits to living organ donors, which allows live-donor transplant recipients (enrolled in Healthtera’s family telemedicine plan) to cover their living organ donor under Healthera’s “Family-Sharing Plan” at no additional charge.

Here’s how it works:

• Healthtera’s telemedicine subscribers can include their living kidney donor in their telemedicine benefits under their “Shared Family Plan” – at no extra charge.

• Benefits include unlimited 24/7 “on-demand” access to U.S. Board-certified physicians (via telephone, online or mobile app) for medical consultation and medically necessary pharmacy prescriptions.

• The monthly subscription fee for a transplant recipient is $18/month, which covers up to 10 family members total.

• This plan includes unlimited sessions with physicians and there are no deductibles or copay’s.

Of course you don’t have to be a transplant recipient to subscribe to telemedicine. Most people enroll for access to physicians after-hours or when traveling, during holidays and over weekends. This program can eliminate the need to wait days for an appointment for a basic need. It can eliminate the need to go to urgent care for most basic needs.

The TransplantFirst Academy (TFA) with Healthera’s principals, shared our founder’s story and vision to expand coverage to transplant recipient subscribers who would like to include their living organ donor in their family plan. This ground-breaking concept was approved and now recognizes living organ donors as life-saving health-heroes who deservedly qualify for coverage under their transplant recipient’s “Shared Family Plan.”
TFA feels it was a privilege to have played a small role in influencing this unprecedented expansion of benefits for non-related living donors.
They invite you to spread the word about this unique “extra layer of protection” that now allows organ transplant recipients to consider having for themselves, their families and their selfless health-heroes, their living kidney donors.

View Billboard Campaign to Honor Living Kidney Donors Here: 1kidney.org

Learn more here: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/living-organ-donors-receive-free-162700941.html

Living Organ Donors Can Now Receive An Extra Layer of Protection, Through Their Recipients Tele-medicine Family Sharing Plan
Living Organ Donors Can Now Receive An Extra Layer of Protection, Through Their Recipients Tele-medicine Family Sharing Plan

Living Kidney Donor Tribute Inspires Followers

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TransplantFirst Academy is raising community awareness in living kidney donation.

TransplantFirst Academy urged Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton to approve a proclamation in honor of living kidney donors for their brave gift. The proclamation was approved to be recognized throughout the month of January.

“Most healthy individuals don’t realize that they can donate one of their kidneys and make an immediate impact on someone’s life,” said Risa Simon, founder and CEO of TransplantFirst Academy. “The mayor’s proclamation combined with our billboard campaign, a tribute showcasing real-life living kidney donors, aims to expand awareness.”

“Since living kidney donors don’t wear a Medal of Honor or a superhero’s cape, it’s often hard to recognize them. Their decoration of a few tiny scars is a unique distinction of lifetime achievement for the role they played in saving lives.”

Living kidney donation is not for everyone. It takes a very special and healthy person to qualify. Simon added, “Kidneys are hard to come by and our nation’s deceased organ supply simply cannot meet the demand. We hope that our billboard campaign makes people aware that they can make an impact now, not just after they are deceased.”

TransplantFirst Academy’s billboard campaign goal is simple:
1. Honor living kidney donors for saving more than 132,160 lives (2,834 lives in Arizona) as of December 25, 2015.
2. Capture community attention that ignites interest in living kidney donation.
3. Save lives by ending the life-threatening wait for those in need.

As a passionate patient advocate and preemptive transplant recipient, Simon said, “When my living donor stepped forward on my behalf, I received more than a highly functioning kidney. I received a sense of duty to advocate for all those facing this reality.”

About TransplantFirst Academy:
TransplantFirst Academy is a 501c3 non-profit organization based in Phoenix, Ariz., dedicated to empowering and improving kidney patient outcomes. For more information, visit transplantfirst.org. To become a sponsor or request an interview, contact Risa Simon at 480-575-9353 or risa@transplantfirst.org.

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Patient Engagement And Outcomes

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womenAccording to an article published in the Wall Street Journal on March 31, 2014, patient outcomes can be impacted by how engaged they are in their care. In this article, How Doctors Rate Patients, studies show that patient outcomes are better—and costs are lower for patients who are actively involved in their care. So why aren’t more patients getting actively involved? Because most patients lack the skills and the confidence to be this kind of patient – and because most healthcare providers haven’t yet recognized this unique way to improve patient engagement and outcomes.

Patient Activation Counts

Patient engagement is becoming a scale upon which patients are rated for their level of “Activation.” Patient activation, described as the measure of how engaged patients are in their care, run from little to no activation, to highly activated.

Highly activated patients are those who show better outcomes and incur lower costs. The problem, however, is that roughly 40% of Americans lack the skills, knowledge and confidence to become fully activated patients. In this group of patients, it is more common to see non-compliance issues like failing to take their medications, skipping preventive screenings and patients who end up back in the hospital soon after discharge.

Encouraging higher levels of patient activation is especially important for patients trying to manage diabetes, high blood pressure or other chronic health conditions, like chronic kidney disease (CKD).

The value of patient activation has translated into benefits for hospitals, healthcare plans and employers who are now beginning to score individuals on how engaged they will be in their care. This process can be accomplished using an assessment tool called the Patient Activation Measure, or PAM.

Patient Rating System Reveals More

PAM scores patient engagement from a level of 0 to 100 by rating 13 statements, such as “I am confident that I can tell a doctor my concerns, even when he or she does not ask.” The results are categorized into one of four activation levels. Patients whose scores rate at level 1, the lowest level, lack confidence and problem-solving ability. Level two is for patients who just starting to build their confidence, whereas level three is for patients who are beginning to use their knowledge and confidence to take action. The highest level, level four, are patients who have transformed their passive habits into proactive behaviors and are pushing forward, despite the fact that they may still struggle in times of overwhelm.

Communication, Communication, Communication

A key benefit to this novel scoring process is that it allows healthcare providers to tailor their communications accordingly, so patients feel empowered rather than overwhelmed. Personalizing patient communications encourages patient confidence, diagnosis ownership and the desire to proactively secure the best outcome.

The PAM evaluation process and reflective scores also help patients recognize the need to improve communication with their doctors. Likewise, it helps care providers become more mindful of the need to encourage patient engagement.

This interactive assessment model also underscores the need for patient empowerment and self-advocacy training, group mentoring/coaching and further investigation of interventional tools that improve patient education and resulting outcomes.

Engagement Supports Patient Compliance, Decline in Hospitalizations & Savings

According to Insignia Health’s Chief Executive Chris Delaney, a single point increase in a PAM score can result in a 2% improvement in medication adherence and a 2% decline in hospitalization, with a reported savings ranging from $260 to $3,700, per patient on an annualized basis. Other improvements reported include a 42% decline in average quarterly emergency and urgent-care visits over 18 months at a primary care practice that used the PAM scoring test in Eugene, Oregon.

“Everyone assumes this is sort of a soft science, but we can measure patient activation just as rigorously and scientifically as other things in health care,” – Judith Hibbard, a senior researcher at the University of Oregon’s Health Policy Research Group and lead developer of the PAM assessment.

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To learn more visit: www.transplantfirst.org

 

Missing Link in CKD Patient Education

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960.Proactive.Engagement.sideviewMany chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are floating in a sea of uncertainty due to inadequate patient education and various knowledge barriers. Consequently, the patient’s understanding of various treatment options—and how the timing of engagement can impact each outcome, is often lost in the shuffle.

With the clock ticking behind the scenes, CKD patients often look to their physicians for advice. While the tendency to delay end stage option discussions early on because it can cause unnecessary fear, it also closes life-changing doors for those who could medically benefit from a timely transplant.  

Hence, early education is key, especially for patients who are told “You’ve got lots of time.” Telling a patient they aren’t “sick enough” to learn robs them from learning more and proactively fighting for their best life possible. Regardless of perceived timelines, patients need to recognize how oblivious and passive behaviors can negatively impact future outcomes.

The missing link in CKD education is the delayed timing of introductions, which are encouraged to begin at Stage 4 kidney disease. Yet, kidney patients deserve the right to discover transplant opportunities—before their declining health completely forbids them from becoming a potential candidate. They deserve the right to fight for a better quality of life when they are healthy enough to give it all they’ve got.

Physicians have the power to course-correct this conundrum by simply engaging their patients in earlier stages of in their disease continuum, (ideally starting no later than eGFR 59, as patients enter Stage 3 kidney disease). Time is king and information is power. Physicians can empower their patients by sharing information early and repeating it often. Encouraging patients to proactively slow the progression of their disease and fight for a better life becomes key to achieving better outcomes.

Patients deserve to know what their future might look like and how they can drive their best path forward. They also deserve  plenty of time to learn more, explore more and contemplate their options before time of need. It’s the only way to ensure sound decisions are make.

Asking Key Questions

It’s extremely important to encourage patients to become more engaged by  advocating for their best life possible. Encouraging patients to ask important questions and contemplating opportunities before their clock runs out is essential. 

The questions listed below encourage an open dialogue, while positioning healthcare providers as leaders who guide their patients on a more proactive path to their best life possible.

  • “Is Transplant A Better Option To Consider Over Dialysis?”
  • “How Do Outcomes Differ Between Dialysis Patients & Transplant Patients?”
  • “Do You Think I Might Be Transplant Eligible?”
  • “If I’m Not Transplant Eligible, Can I Improve My Future Chances?”
  • “What Should I Do To Secure Long-Term Transplant Eligibility?”
  • “What Transplant Centers In the Area Should I Consider?”
  • “How Do I Get A Referral to A Transplant Center?”
  • “What’s The Best Timing For Referral?”
  • ”How Long Is The Wait On The National List For A Deceased Donor’s Kidney?”
  • “Are There Long Term Benefits In Getting A Transplant From A Living Kidney Donor?
  • “How Would I Ask Someone To Consider Being My Living Donor?” 
  • “How Early Should I Start This Dialogue?”

Conclusion

Addressing important questions long before the patient is in need of renal replacement therapy is key. Educating patients as they enter Stage 3 (eGFR 59) will empower their timeline to contemplate, plan and prepare for their best outcome. Early transplant referrals will inspirit potential recipients from attracting potential donors. Finding and testing living kidney donor takes time—often years. The evaluation process for potential recipients also takes time. When education is delayed and decisions are postponed, outcomes are put at risk.  

At the TransplantFirst Academy’s founder, Risa Simon, instilled the wisdom she discovered as a preemptive transplant recipient to inspire all eligible CKD patients to seek a more proactive path for circumventing dialysis. Her pioneering efforts toward patient self-advocacy and empowerment have become the core fibers in the TransplantFirst Academy’s vision.

The TransplantFirst Academy is dedicated to bridging the missing link in CKD patient education and CKD patient empowerment, by providing healthcare providers an advanced education system beginning at early stages (starting at eGFR 59), before illness advances or depression sets in.

“When CKD Patients Are Exposed To Advanced Information Regarding Renal Replacement Therapy (Shortly After Their Initial Diagnosis), They

Are Better Equipped To Fully Participate In & Proactively

Advocate For Their BEST LIFE Possible.”

– Risa Simon, Founder TransplantFirst Academy

CKD patients need to secure a better life for themselves by becoming more engaged in the process long before illness advances. Let’s give them their best shot at living the quality-of-life they deserve.  Inspire your patients to seek a better future by offering this exceptional learning system in your office. Visit: www.transplantfirst.org

 

Five Most Common Mistakes Kidney Disease Patients Make & How to Avoid Them

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Everyone makes mistakes. I’ve certainly made my share. I guess the upside of making a mistake is the powerful lesson that follows. Of course, the learning only “sinks in” when the memory of error lingers longer than the mistake itself.

Wouldn’t it be great to avoid all those unforeseen blunders long before they throw you into a tailspin of reactive, uninformed decision-making? While you can’t control everything in your life, like your kidney disease that appears to have the upper hand in this game, you could influence the outcome by being more prepared for all those unpredictable circumstances.

Below you find some golden nuggets to help you avoid the 5 most common Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patient landmines by becoming your own best advocate. Incorporate these proactive behaviors and you’ll soon be on your way to becoming a more empowered patient in pursuit of your best life possible. The life every CKD patient deserves.

Mistake #1: Ignoring Your Numbers

Are you monitoring your blood pressure, weight and lab results closely, or are you relying on your doctors to translate those hard to pronounce words and jumbled corresponding values? Don’t assume you’re being told everything you need to know. You’re the patient and you need to take some responsibility here too by asking key questions and encouraging a dialogue. Your numbers play a significant role in the progression of your disease. They also alert you to a potential problem that you might not be aware of and that you might be able to reverse before the problem worsens.

To keep yourself well informed and proactively involved in your health, step-up your game a notch or two by following these patient self-advocacy tips:

  1. Set your digital calendar to sound an alarm or send you a message when it’s time to check your BP and weight, or get down to the lab.
  2. Keep a spreadsheet for tracking your BP and weight by date.
  3. Keep an observation diary for tracking new and unusual symptoms that might be associated with fluctuations in areas such as BP or weight.
  4. Insist on getting a copy* of your lab results faxed to you at the same time your doctor’s office receives them. This way you can review them and prepare your questions in advance. (*Your doctor will need to indicate this “CC” request on EACH lab order. Do not leave the office until this request has been confirmed. There’s nothing more frustrating than arguing with a lab about your right to obtain your results).
  5. Create a spreadsheet for your lab values as well. This will allow to plot your numbers by date for visual comparison trends. Being organized will also allow you to more efficiently formulate your questions at each visit.

While your labs can look like Greek to you, do not be intimidated. Keep your eagle eyes on these numbers at all times.

(1) eGFR (this is an estimated number that shows how efficiently your kidneys are sifting, sorting and cleaning waste from your blood).

(2) Creatinine (the measurement that gauges your kidney’s ability to breakdown muscle cell waste.

(3) BUN (the amount of protein in your blood and urine).

Of course, paying attention to all your numbers, including electrolytes like potassium, blood cell counts like hemoglobin and hematocrit, and monitoring calcium, phosphate—and lipids, is also very important. Of course, watching for blood or protein in the urine must not be overlooked either. Follow these tips to more effectively partner with your healthcare team as you become your own best advocate. Information is power.

Mistake #2: Forgetting To ASK & TELL

If you are just showing up for your appointments without a pen and a legal pad full of questions, list of concerns—and your spreadsheets with all your number comparisons, you’re missing out on a valuable wisdom-gaining experience. When you choose to engage, you’ll influence the focus of each appointment from the moment your doctor walks through the door.

Here Are Your Top 3 “ASK’s”:

  1. What’s your “take” on my last labs and what can I do to impact them more favorably?
  2. Should I need renal replacement, do you think I’d be eligible for transplant?
  3. If not now, what could I do to improve my chances?

Become an inquiring mind. Never stop asking and learning.

Here Are Your Top 3 “TELL’s”:

  1. Your symptoms, observations and concerns since your last visit. (Use your observation diary).
  2. Obvious number changes. (Utilize your BP, weight and lab comparison spreadsheets).
  3. Your concerns, desires and future goals.

If initiating dialogues with you doctor is uncomfortable for you, state it as so. For example, you can say “This is a bit awkward (or embarrassing or maybe even a bit premature), but I think it’s important enough to bring up. May I use this appointment time to share a couple of concerns I have with you?”

If you find your doctor seems distracted when you try to open this dialogue or just too rushed to listen, you might consider email communication as an alternative if your doctor is open to it. Bottom line, it’s extremely important to sense the door is always open for communication with your doctor. You should not have to walk on eggshells to approach a topic. Open communication is the only way to build respect and trust. If your attempts fall on flat ears, it might be a sign to get a second opinion while exploring other care providers in your network. Your job is advocate for yourself by partnering with your care providers. You’ll never be able to achieve your goals if you don’t feel like you’re an integral part of the team working on a plan to secure your best future.

Mistake #3: Waiting To Get Sicker

If you’re waiting to get sicker before you get serious about your future, you could be in for a rude awaking. Open your eyes to what someday could be the inevitable. Look at it this way, “It’s not a matter of if you’ll ever develop renal failure, it’s a matter of experiencing failure of a different kind. Failure to do something (i.e.; seize opportunity) while you still can.”

When you don’t have all the particulars, it is easy to think that you have more time than you actually have. This is an illusion. By using what I call the “side-view mirror approach,” you’ll be more cognizant of potential illusions, just like “Objects in the mirror may be closer than they appear.”

While the “if” and “when” of losing complete kidney function may be unknown to you at this time, create an imaginary side-view mirror for yourself that reads “Renal failure may be closer than it appears.” This perception alone will motivate you be fully prepared with a “ready-set-go” mindset for seizing optimal opportunities.

The Chinese symbol for crisis combines figures depicting both danger and opportunity. We can learn from this by embracing each precarious situation as an opportunity to discover a better path.

An addict waits to hit rock bottom before doing something for themselves. You don’t have to wait until you hit rock bottom of your health, in fact you shouldn’t. Partner with a mentor and coach-advocate along with your healthcare team to create a coalition of specialists to support your proactive intentions. This is how you’ll be able to secure your best life possible.

Mistake #4: Assuming Dialysis Comes First

Most CKD patients rarely pick transplant as their first choice, mostly because they are unaware of this opportunity and its unparalleled value. Perhaps you thought dialysis was required before you’d be considered for a transplant. This misconception can keep superior choices beyond your reach.

Woefully, less than 3% of CKD patients choose a preemptive transplant (a transplant performed before the need for dialysis). If there’s a chance that you could be a transplant candidate, you’ll need to proactively work a plan to attract potential live-kidney donors. If you are told you would not be eligible, be sure to verify from through a second opinion. Also, find out what you could do to change that status, if anything. (Common transplant restrictions include serious active infection, active malignancy, heart disease and obesity). Learn the rules and then give it all you’ve got to achieve the best possible outcome.

Mistake #5: Neglecting To Disclose Your Story

Are you and your kidney disease hiding in the closet? If so, you’re not alone. I didn’t tell a sole about my condition for years. But then I realized I was doing myself and others a disservice. It takes a village to increase awareness. Your story can touch listeners heartstrings—particularly when it is shared from your heart and when you expect nothing in return. Listeners not only need to learn about your situation, but they also need to know the frightening realities, like the nearly 97,000 people waiting for a kidney transplant, our national organ shortage and it’s catastrophic wait for deceased organs. No doubt your story will elicit curiosity to learn more—and perhaps even do more.

Don’t think that sharing your story is pointless because if someone really wanted to help they would have already done so. This is foolish and self-sabotaging thinking. Until others truly understand your situation and the national need, they can’t begin to imagine how they might help you or find someone who could. It’s your duty to become a voice for all. Hope for a better tomorrow starts with you.

About The Author

As a motivational speaker, 3x published author, patient mentor and private coach, Risa has one goal: To empower kidney patients to become their own best advocate. Risa is the founder of the TransplantFirst Academy, The Proactive Path and Simon Says Seminars, Inc. Risa also runs the Phoenix Chapter of the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation while serving on prestigious renal organization advisory committees. Known as “The kidney patient’s patient advocate,” Risa followed the proactive systems she created for herself and others—and is now living her best life ever. This is what she wants for all transplant eligible patients. Her tips, scripts and Donor Magnet® system can be found in her book: Shift Your Fate: Life-Changing Wisdom For Proactive Kidney Patients available on amazon. For more information visits these links:

www.transplantfirst.org 

www.theproactivepath.com

www.shiftyourfate.com.

The Dialysis Dilemma

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Survive or Thrive?

Dialysis is an essential life-saving treatment for end stage renal disease (ESRD). The medical marvel of a mechanical device mimicking waste management functions of a human kidney is, indeed, remarkable. And while this brilliant technology helps its users survive, an better option could help ESRD eligible patients live an even better and longer life. A life where they can thrive, not just survive.  

The Hidden Opportunity

Thousands of transplant “eligible” dialysis patients are missing out on an opportunity to live a higher quality of life and most of them don’t even know it! Could you be among them? Have you considered your options? Perhaps you are in a comfort zone of sorts? After all, if it’s not broken, why fix it? Your life doesn’t have to be broken to make it better. What if there was a way to dream a bigger dream. What if there was a way to make that dream come true? What if that dream was your life without the machine? Do I have your attention?

Could you be transplant eligible? Could you be overlooking a better opportunity without even knowing it? Perhaps you think this doesn’t apply to you because you’re already wait listed for a deceased organ donor. Has anyone explained to you the risk in waiting and how a living donor can end your wait and extend your years of function? If not, you may be caught in the Dialysis Complacency Trap®.

The Dialysis Complacency Trap®

“You (consciously or unconsciously) remain on dialysis because

it’s your survival routine and preferred ‘Comfort Zone’—despite the fact

that your rarely describe dialysis as anything but comfortable.”

Your Fears and Hesitations

Are you hesitant to pursue transplant because you fear the surgery, immunosuppression drugs or the thought of putting someone else at risk for your own benefit? While these concerns are not uncommon, they pale in comparison to the benefits this life-altering experience can offer both you—and your living kidney donor.

Making Dreams Come True

Think transplant is an unrealistic fantasy due to the fact that there’s already nearly 100,000 people waiting ahead and alongside of you? While this unequivocal organ donor crisis has become a sad reflection of how supply cannot meet the demand, there is a way out. All you have to do is be willing to transform your passive “wait and see” postures into pro-active behaviors. How do you do this you ask? Through desire, intention and pursuing living kidney donor opportunities.

Unopened doors await you. Behind these doors you can potentially transform all your fantasies into ‘dreams come true,’ as you gain a fresh perspective on this untapped bundle of benefits.

But No One Cares Enough

Already feel defeated because you believe if someone really wanted to help you, they would have done so already? Know that these thoughts are coming from your frightened inner “Doubting Thomas” voice. These inner skeptics are trying to trick you into believing you are unworthy and that no one cares enough about you to get involved in your crusade.

The truth is, no one will ever offer to help you if they don’t sense your desire to live life more fully. It’s your belief that a better life is out there—and within arm’s reach, that will inspire others to lean in and step forward. You deserve it!

For more information visit:  www.transplantfirst.org