I'm looking for a living kidney donor 💚 Please help spread the word

I Need a Kidney. Can you help?

My Story

Dear Family, Friends, and New Acquaintances,

I hope all is well. I'm writing to share a personal health update and ask for your support.

Over the past few years, I have been experiencing chronic fatigue, headaches, nausea, and extremely high blood pressure. After extensive testing, I have been diagnosed with end-stage chronic kidney disease. I'm now 38 years old and living with very low kidney function.

I'm sharing my story in case it inspires someone to get tested and consider donating a kidney.

My medical team has advised that my best option for a long-term, healthy life is to find a living kidney donor.

While medications have helped deal with some symptoms, I'm still dealing with chronic fatigue as a result of lower hemoglobin caused by kidney disease.

My immediate family already came forward to get tested.

However, none are able to donate a kidney. My Mom's screening showed kidney cancer and she has successfully undergone surgery to have one of her kidneys partially removed.

The doctors deemed my Dad medically ineligible to donate & unsafe for him to donate.

The doctors said my Sister's kidney anatomy would make the surgery much more complex and risky for both her and I.

I am incredibly grateful for the love and support my family has shown throughout this journey, and I remain hopeful that the right donor match is out there.

Next steps

I'm currently on dialysis and looking for other suitable kidney donors. Now that I'm on dialysis, I'll be put on a deceased donor waitlist, with an expected wait time of about 5 years. Receiving a kidney from a living donor, and much sooner, is a much better option as it offers me better long-term success outcomes, and longer life expectancy.

I'm getting the word out in the hope that someone might consider coming forward to be tested as a potential living kidney donor.

I know this is a big request, and it is not easy for me to ask. I would want anyone who considers donation to do so out of the goodness of their heart and that there is zero pressure. I understand it's a very personal decision.

view living donor questionnaire

Update on Dialysis

I have recently undergone surgery and had a peritoneal dialysis catheter implanted into my abdomen and I have begun nightly peritoneal dialysis at home.

Although dialysis will help filter toxins from my body at night and give me more energy intermittently, a living donor transplant would allow me to have freedom from dialysis and be a more effective long-term solution.

If you've ever wanted to make a lasting impact on someone's life, please consider taking the first step and getting tested.

Kidney Donors Can Live An Equally Long Life With One Kidney

✅ Donors don’t have to be related or be the same blood type to donate.
✅ National kidney paired donation program: through this program, if you are willing to donate but are not a match for me, your kidney could go to another person in need, and I would receive a compatible kidney from another living donor in the matching program.
✅ Your donation could help mutliple people: in a kidney paired program, your donation could help start a chain of transplants that benefits multiple people and families across Canada who are waiting for a compatible kidney.
✅ A kidney donor can be male or female, and there's no age limit.

Donor Safety & Donation Process:

Donors undergo a detailed screening process to ensure it is safe for you to donate, and it is all done privately, by a hospital donor team. It will all be confidential, and I won't know anything about your process, unless you choose to tell me.
Anyone who goes through the donor screening process will receive full body diagnostic scans, including heart & kidney testing, full blood & urine testing, with a doctor review of the results - all useful info for your own health too. 📝🔎
Full recovery after a living kidney donor surgery typically takes four to six weeks, with the average hospital stay being 1 - 3 days.

Reimbursement of Expenses:

Donor evaluation & surgery are fully covered by the government (OHIP) and the donor can be from anywhere around the world. 🌎
Reimbursement is available through the Government for lost income, travel, and other expenses (PRELOD program).

view living donor questionnaire

A Kidney for Mark - What it Means

I'm a son, brother, and uncle and enjoy spending quality time with my family and friends. I'm still looking forward to meeting someone and eventually starting a family - this is something high on my 'bucket list' of things I'd still like to accomplish in my lifetime.

I also enjoy living an active lifestyle playing sports, and travelling. Having a living kidney donor would allow me to live a truly healthy and active life, and enjoy it to its fullest.

Being a living kidney donor could provide a miraculous gift and provide me with a second chance at life. 🫶🏼

Want To Be A Living Kidney Donor?

Please contact the Living Donor Transplant Team at St. Joseph's Hospital, Hamilton, ON 🇨🇦

📞 905-522-1155, ext. 32156

Email 💻: livingdonors@stjoes.ca

(they're very helpful & friendly 😊)

Or, you can download & fill out the Living Donor Questionnaire 📄 (which is the first step for screening for suitability): www.stjoes.ca/livingdonorquestionnaire

I also have printed copies of the questionnaire that I can give to you.

Competed forms can be sent to the above email or dropped off in person to the Multi-Care Kidney Clinic at St. Joseph's Hospital (Marian Wing) at 50 Charlton Ave E, Hamilton, ON 🏥

The medical team will review your info & advise on next steps.

~Please remember that completing the questionnaire does not commit you to donating a kidney, you can change your mind at any time~

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My contact info:

Mark Will:

Email 💻: akidneyformark@outlook.com

Phone 📞: 905-875-8870

I'm happy to answer any questions -whether it's a quick message, a phone call, or a coffee chat about my story & living kidney donation.

View living donor questionnaire

I Need a Kidney. Can you help?

I Need a Kidney. Can you help?

My Story

Update on Dialysis

Kidney Donors Can Live An Equally Long Life With One Kidney

A Kidney for Mark - What it Means

Want To Be A Living Kidney Donor?

Kidney Information Resources

Share Website Link

I Need a Kidney. Can you help?

I Need a Kidney. Can you help?

My Story

Update on Dialysis

Kidney Donors Can Live An Equally Long Life With One Kidney

A Kidney for Mark - What it Means

Want To Be A Living Kidney Donor?

Kidney Information Resources

Share Website Link

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