My name is Lillian Rose O’Donnell, and I have End-Stage Kidney Disease. While the National Wait List for a cadaver kidney is 5 to 7 years, a living donor could provide a life-saving transplant in months. I invite you to explore my journey and consider the gift of life. Your selfless choice could restore my health and secure our family’s future.
My primary goal is to obtain a kidney from a living donor. My secondary goal is to educate you about kidney disease. With that education you may decide to donate. If you decide donating is not for you, then I would ask you use the education you receive from this website to take the necessary steps for you and your loved ones to possibly avoid my current situation. Talk to your doctors, they are your best source for information about kidney disease.
I am a spouse, mother, and grandmother defined by a lifelong passion for service. With an education in both Mathematics and Counseling, I have taught and helped countless people of all ages. Now in retirement I am eager to return to community volunteerism and my grandchildren.
My journey began in 2000 with a diabetes diagnosis, followed by high blood pressure in 2005. I learned these were relatively silent predictors of Chronic Kidney Disease. Despite my best efforts to stay active and follow medical advice, I was slowly losing a battle to kidney disease. After two potential living donors were unable to proceed, my need has become urgent. I have transitioned from a fiercely independent “giver” to someone now asking a person who does not even know me for the ultimate gift of life.
With kidneys in total failure, a transplant represents the gold standard for survival. It is the most effective treatment for ESKD, offering a life-saving alternative to the physical toll of dialysis.
Before my health declined, my life revolved around activity and family. As the oldest of six children, and later as a Nationally Certified Counselor, I was always helping others. I loved traveling with my husband around this great country, where I met so many different people. Most importantly, I cherished my frequent trips to Austin to be with my grandchildren. I am fighting for a transplant so I can return to being the active grandmother and community volunteer I’ve always been.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a progressive condition where the kidneys lose their vital ability to filter waste from the body. This journey eventually leads to End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD), a stage where a life-sustaining transplant becomes a medical necessity for survival.
While dialysis serves as a vital bridge to a kidney transplant, it is not a permanent solution. Given that wait times for cadaver kidneys average between five and seven years, the need for compassionate living donors is both urgent and life-saving.
Living donation offers a profound advantage, as kidneys from living donors typically last 15 to 20 years and provide significantly better health outcomes than long-term dialysis. This selfless act allows a recipient to bypass years of declining health, providing an immediate path back to a near-normal, vibrant life.
Donation changes everything; for the recipient, the anxiety of an uncertain future is replaced by health and hope, while for the donor, it remains a profound act of humanity that offers a lasting sense of purpose and fulfillment.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a progressive condition where the kidneys lose their vital ability to filter waste from the body. This journey eventually leads to End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD), a stage where a life-sustaining transplant becomes a medical necessity for survival.
While dialysis serves as a vital bridge to a kidney transplant, it is not a permanent solution. Given that wait times for cadaver kidneys average between five and seven years, the need for compassionate living donors is both urgent and life-saving.
Living donation offers a profound advantage, as kidneys from living donors typically last 15 to 20 years and provide significantly better health outcomes than long-term dialysis. This selfless act allows a recipient to bypass years of declining health, providing an immediate path back to a near-normal, vibrant life.
Donation changes everything; for the recipient, the anxiety of an uncertain future is replaced by health and hope, while for the donor, it remains a profound act of humanity that offers a lasting sense of purpose and fulfillment.
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Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard
If a donor is found, my transplant will be performed at Baylor Scott & White (BSW) in Fort Worth. Their expert team provides comprehensive education and support for all potential donors.
Explore the fundamentals of donation to ensure you are fully informed about the medical screening process. The process at BS&W is nearly identical to the process described in this video.
Witness the powerful, real-life journeys of those who have chosen to give the gift of life and the impact it has had.
Access the comprehensive Baylor Scott & White clinical guide for both donors and recipients to understand the surgical journey ahead.
Please consider if living donation is the right path for you. By contacting Baylor Scott & White in Fort Worth, you can begin a confidential screening process. If you choose to proceed, please specify that this is a Directed Donation for Lillian Rose O’Donnell. Your consideration alone is a profound gift of hope to our family.
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These featured stories from the National Kidney Donor Organization offer deep educational insights into the donor experience and the incredible legacy of living donation.
These featured stories offer deep educational insights into the donor experience and the incredible legacy of living donation.
