JOHN KIM
GOOD NEWS! John received a transplant from a living donor on January 21, 2014. Both John and his donor are doing well. Congratulations, John!
Hello,
My name is John Kim, and I’m 35 years old. When I was 23, I was diagnosed with focal segmental glomerular sclerosis, a condition in which scar tissue forms in the filtering structures of the kidney. (NBA basketball player Alonzo Mourning also had FSGS. He cousin enabled him to avoid dialysis by donating a kidney to him.)
My kidney function gradually deteriorated, and at the age of 32, I had to go on dialysis. I’ve been on dialysis for three years, but it is only a temporary solution and is fraught with serious limitations and consequences. My only option is a kidney transplant.
I'm seeking a living donor because it is a far better option than waiting for a matching deceased donor. Not only would a living donor allow for a transplant while I’m at my healthiest, it is also my best chance for a successful transplant that will last many years. (A transplant from a deceased donor generally lasts only half as long as one from a living donor.) Unfortunately, my relatives are not eligible to donate.
My doctors tell me I am a good candidate for a transplant because I am otherwise healthy. I’ve always enjoyed an active life in the outdoors, playing basketball and tennis. In recent years, I've used those interests to maintain my health for this eventuality. I have been working to be sure I can provide a good home for a donated kidney--whatever the source--for a long time.
There is a wealth of information on this site that explains most every aspect of living donation one might want to know. You can view the criteria for donating here and here. My blood type is B+, which means that I can accept a donor with either type B or type O. (Positive or negative does not matter.)
If you would like to know more about me, please visit my Facebook page, John Kim Needs a Kidney. If you would like to contact me personally, click the message button on my Facebook page.
If, after browsing this site, you would like to explore the possibility of donating, please contact my transplant coordinator, Heather Busch, and tell her you would like to be tested for John Kim. She can answer your questions and ask some health screening questions to determine if you could continue with preliminary blood testing and other health evaluations. Your name and any information you share is confidential and will not be shared with me.
Heather Busch
University of California, Irvine Medical Center
714-456-8441 (office)
714-456-8796 (fax)
I ask two things of everyone who reads this. First, please share this page with others. Second, please look around your circle of family and friends: There may well be someone close to you who has a similar need. If you are able to help that person, you will reduce by one the waiting list for those like me who are still waiting to reach the top of the list.
Asking others for such a selfless and significant gift is a difficult thing to do. But the time has come that I must do so. My life depends on it. I thank you for reading my story and considering my need.
Sincerely,
John Kim
9/30/12