About Kidney For Me
Kidney For Me is a platform dedicated to helping kidney transplant candidates share their stories and connect with potential living kidney donors. We believe that every patient deserves a chance to tell their story and find hope.
Our Mission
Our mission is simple: connect kidney patients with potential living donors through the power of storytelling. Behind every patient on a transplant waitlist is a person with dreams, family, and a future worth fighting for. We give patients a voice and a platform to share their journey.
Why Living Donation Matters
Over 90,000 people are waiting for kidney transplants in the United States. The average wait time for a deceased donor kidney is 3-5 years – and for some, it can be 10 years or more. During this wait, patients endure dialysis treatments multiple times per week, experience declining health, and face uncertainty about their future.
Living kidney donation changes everything:
- Living donor kidneys last an average of 15-20 years (vs. 10-12 for deceased donors)
- Transplant can happen within months instead of years
- Better health outcomes for recipients – Donors can live full, healthy lives with one kidney
How It Works
For Patients: Kidney patients can share their stories on this platform, helping potential donors understand their journey and why they need help. Each story includes the patient’s background, medical journey, and information about how to help.
For Potential Donors: Browse patient stories to learn about individuals waiting for transplants. If you feel called to help, you can contact patients directly through their story pages. The transplant center will guide you through the screening process to ensure donation is safe for you.
Our Story
Kidney For Me was founded by Jim Rebensdorf, a husband, father, dog dad, IT nerd, operations and quality management professional who was diagnosed with Stage 4 and now progressed to stage 5 chronic kidney disease. After being placed on the transplant waitlist, Jim realized that many patients lack a way to share their stories with potential living donors. This platform was created to change that – to give patients a professional, dignified way to tell their stories and connect with people who want to help.
Get Involved
Are You a Patient?
If you’re waiting for a kidney transplant and want to share your story, we’d love to help. Contact us to learn more about getting your story listed.
Are You Considering Donation?
Browse our patient stories and learn more about living kidney donation. If you feel called to help, reach out to a patient directly through their story page, or visit our Resources section to learn more about the process.
Want to Help Spread Awareness?
Share patient stories on social media, talk about living donation with friends and family, and help us reduce the kidney transplant waitlist one story at a time.
Contact Us
Questions about the platform or living kidney donation? Visit our Contact page or reach out through any patient story. Together, we can save lives.