Give the gift of life
Become a Kidney Donor Today
Your decision to become a kidney donor could change Anne's life forever. Your selfless act of kindness could give her the precious gift of time - time to spend with her loves ones, time to pursue her passions and time to cherish every moment.
If you have additional questions contact a care coordinator @ (206) 598 3627
My story
Anne Bleeker
Hello, my name is Anne Bleeker I am 62 years old, and I am a wife and mother of two amazing daughters who have both graduated from the University of Washington. I am also living with Stage 4 renal failure. My kidneys are failing due to medical problems that are not associated with any disease. I am not currently on dialysis. Now is the best time for me to receive a transplant because it will be more successful than if I had already started dialysis. Recently, my nephrologist gave me the bad news that I will probably need dialysis in a year. This is a very scary prospect for me. I don’t have much time before things get more complicated and I would have a less successful outcome.
Family means everything to me. My daughters and husband are the light of my life. I was very close to my parents especially in their later years. My father who had type 1 diabetes lived until he was just shy of his 88th birthday and my mother was 94 when she passed. It has always been my hope I would live a long a life like they did but, now it will most likely be cut short because of two medical mishaps. It is my greatest wish to be able to meet and get to know my grandchildren. A live kidney donation will help me meet that goal as it is my best option. I have more to give and life to live. I hope to find a kind, selfless, generous person to help extend my life.
If you want to qualify to be my donor you need to know my name and that I am going through the UW transplant center.
If you are interested in following my journey, check out my Facebook page Anne Needs a Donor by choosing the blog above.
Many thanks for your time and interest.
Why I Need a Kidney
I had taken a required medication for over 20 years when my doctor became aware that it had done substantial damage to my kidneys. The side effect was not widely known so the damage had not been previously detected. Some years after that in November 2021, I required an IV contrast procedure to stop life threatening internal bleeding after a colonoscopy. The results were that I would eventually need a kidney transplant. That time is now. Unfortunately no one in my immediate family qualifies as a kidney donor so I am asking for your help.
If you have additional questions contact a care coordinator @ (206) 598 3627
FAQ
It takes only one kidney to live a healthy full life.
Roughly 100,000 people in the US need a new kidney and about 13 die every day while waiting for a kidney.
A donor needs to be in general good health and between the ages of 21 – 70.
A donor does not need to be an exact match to donate to a specific person. There is a paired donor exchange program. If person A wants to donate to person B but they are not a match. And person C wants to donate to person D, and they are not a match. The paired exchange program can match person A to person C and person B to D.
Dialysis can only last up to five years before the kidneys fail. The best and most successful treatment available is a kidney transplant.
The donation process is safe, and the donor kidney is removed laparoscopically from the lower abdomen through a small incision.
Over 99% of kidney donors never need dialysis or a new kidney. If this were to happen, they would be moved to the top of the donor list.
The donor has an easier recovery than the recipient. The recipient will have to take anti-rejection medication for the rest of their lives. The donor does not need additional medication after they recover from the surgery.
Through the paired donor exchange program, the donor and recipient do not need to live in the same place.
It takes about 3- 6 months from to time a donor expresses interest in donating until the donor is matched.
A donor can change their mind at any time.
The recipient’s medical insurance pays for the transplant.
A deceased donor kidney lasts on average only 10 years and according to Penn Medicine and a live donor kidney lasts on average nearly 20 years and then sometimes longer.