Taylor Joseph

Hello, my name is Taylor Joseph,

I’m a 30-year-old woman on dialysis waiting for a kidney transplant. Over time, my kidney disease has gotten worse causing my kidneys not to work well enough to keep me alive.
Getting regular dialysis treatments, usually three times a week for four hours at a time, will help my kidneys do their job and keep me alive, but a transplant would offer me more freedom and the ability to live a longer, healthier, more normal life. A transplant would also give me more time to do the fun things I enjoy most at my young age, like spending time with my family and friends.

However, finding a kidney for a transplant is not easy. The average wait time is five years or more. I’ve been waiting seven long years. However, there is another option: receiving a kidney from a living donor.

A living kidney donation typically lasts longer and has better function. You might not know a lot about living donation. Understandably, some people are afraid about the surgery and what living with one kidney will mean for them. Here’s some basic information about kidney donation:

• You only need one kidney to live a healthy, long life.
• Most donor surgery is done laparoscopically, meaning through tiny incisions.
• The recuperation period is usually fairly quick, generally two weeks.
• The cost of your evaluation and surgery will be covered by my insurance. The hospital can give you extensive information on this.
• You will have a separate team of healthcare professionals to evaluate you as a living donor. Their job is to help you understand the risks and benefits and look out for YOUR best interests.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. If donating a kidney to me is something you would like to consider, I would be happy to tell you more about my story and explore the process of determining if you are a match for me. You can also contact my transplant center directly at 954-659-5133 (Cleveland Clinic Weston).

However, I know living donation may not be right for everyone — but you can still help! Help me by sharing my story with everyone you know. At the very least I want to bring awareness to kidney disease and living donation. I am hopeful my efforts will help me receive a kidney sooner and encourage others to consider helping the many people on the waitlist.

Thank you, Taylor Joseph