Hi, I’m Jim. For over 40 years, I’ve been solving problems as an operations and quality management professional. I’ve worked in manufacturing, aerospace, semiconductors – even built my first websites in the mid-1990s when most people were still figuring out email. I’ve spent my career helping companies run better and mentoring people along the way – teaching everything from quality systems and risk management to business process development and manufacturing operations. If there’s a way to make a system work more efficiently, I’ve probably taught someone how to do it. I’ve faced challenges before. But I never expected this one: I’m in Stage 5 kidney failure, and I’m looking for a living kidney donor.

My Journey

In 2015, we lost my mother to kidney failure. Watching her decline, seeing what dialysis took from her quality of life – I knew what this disease could mean. But I never imagined I’d be walking the same path. While she had more medical issues when diagnosed, it doesn’t lessen the severity of my own diagnosis.

I was “officially” diagnosed in 2021, while living in Idaho and working in the semiconductor industry. This was during the infamous Covid shutdown and while working from home, I stood up one day at my desk and almost fell down. Given the cold weather at the time, I attributed this dizzy spell to a sinus infection or something similar. When I went in to see the doctor, I was fortunate that I was assigned to a sports medicine doctor who was building his practice, and he was thorough and methodical in his approach. The sinus infection was there, at a low level, but he wanted me to do blood work to rule out anything else. Results came back within about five days, and the key indicator that something else was going on was my creatinine levels were way above where they should’ve been.

I’ve always been one of those people that thought “as long as I feel okay, I don’t need to visit the doctor.” No annual checkups, only in to see a doctor when I was in an immediate need situation. So at first I thought, “okay, this is something I can get under control.” Not so. His next words were “I am getting you a referral to a nephrologist” and that’s where this part of the journey started. By June of 2021 I was officially diagnosed with Stage 4 CKD (chronic kidney disease), which is a gradual loss of kidney function over time, often due to conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure. Something I just took for granted as “I have a job that can be stressful, so sometimes my blood pressure goes up.” Never did I ever think that one of the two “silent killers” (diabetes being the other one) would take me down this road, but here I am.

A New Reality

Currently I manage my remaining kidney function, and work to slow the progression, by managing my diet to reduce sodium, potassium and phosphorus intake as best I can. It is amazing to think that, growing up, we never really thought a lot about what we ate, in what quantities, and what the ingredients were that are in what we ate. It’s an eye-opener for sure when you start reading the product nutrition labels on everything you buy, let alone understanding what fast food does to our overall well-being.

I am incredibly grateful for my wife. She’s had to learn an entirely new way of cooking – reading every label, calculating every ingredient, finding creative ways to make food taste good within the constraints of a renal (kidney) diet. She’s been my rock through this journey. A transplant isn’t just for me, it’s for us. It’s so we can plan a future together. She has been, and continues to be, my greatest supporter and cheerleader and reminds me every day of the blessings we share, in spite of this life challenge.

While I am generally doing okay dealing with my new reality, I do have days where it can get a bit overwhelming to understand that diet and medications can slow the progression, but they can’t cure CKD at this stage. The only cure is a transplant. CKD at this stage is a life-changing event that brings a lot of new friends (doctors, nurses, etc.), medications, reflection, prayer and hope into the psyche. This is the rollercoaster ride I never thought I would be on. I have always struggled with asking others for help, because I thought I could do everything myself–now I realize the importance of being open, honest and vulnerable in sharing my journey with others, because this is something I can’t and do not want to do on my own.

My wife and I, along with my son, have migrated from where we grew up in Southern California, to Idaho, and finally landed in Tennessee, in a pleasant rural community, which was always our plan. Our son has moved back to the big city, which is good for him, but my wife and I are here and retired, doing volunteer work and looking for ways to bring value to our community. We’re living in a comfortable home with our two dogs right now, and soon will be preparing a room in the home so that I can do dialysis from home when that time comes.

The Big Ask

Knowing that I have dialysis as an option brings some level of comfort and certainty, but that certainty also includes understanding what happens if I never have the opportunity to receive a donor kidney. With CKD Stage 5, and without a transplant, dialysis is my future; with a donor kidney, my ability to live out my days and enjoy time with my family and friends increases exponentially. I am on two transplant waitlists, which can take an average of 3-5 years, up to 10 years in some areas, to receive a deceased donor kidney. Some key facts about dialysis vs. kidney transplant:

• Kidney Transplant: Recipients generally have a significantly better survival rate compared to those on dialysis. The one-year survival rate for deceased-donor transplants is approximately 90-95%, and for living-donor transplants, it is even higher at 95-98%. After five years, about 80% of transplant recipients are still alive.
• Dialysis: Patients on dialysis face a higher risk of mortality, with a 15-20% chance of dying each year. The five-year survival rate for dialysis patients is under 50%, indicating a much shorter life expectancy compared to those who receive a kidney transplant.

What This Means to Me

I’m not ready to be done yet. There’s so much I still want to do. Simple things, really – working in my workshop doing woodworking again without being exhausted. Building and maintaining a greenhouse and planter boxes on our acre of land. Taking road trips with my wife without planning around dialysis centers. Being present for my son’s milestones. Continuing our volunteer work at our local food bank and at the schools in our community. Having energy to walk our two dogs without needing a nap afterward. Working on my classic car and being able to enjoy cruising in the countryside with my wife. Being able to take a long motorcycle ride, maybe even for a few days, without the restrictions of dialysis.

A kidney transplant doesn’t just add years to life – it adds LIFE to those years

How You Can Help

If you’re reading this and even slightly curious about living donation, I encourage you to learn more. The screening process is thorough – they’ll make sure it’s safe for you. Living kidney donors can live full, healthy lives with one kidney.

I’m not asking lightly. But if you feel any pull to explore this, please reach out using the contact form below. Even if you’re not able to donate, sharing my story helps spread awareness.

Whether you donate, share, or simply took the time to read my story – thank you! It means more than you know.