Dear Editor,
March is National Kidney Month, a time to recognize the 37 million Americans living with kidney disease. I am one of them, but my story is a bit different. I am what doctors call “a living miracle,” and I am writing to ask your readers if they might be the final piece of that miracle.
In early 2024, I was at the end of my rope. Diagnosed with liver cirrhosis from prescription meds I had taken for years due to multiple spine injuries, I was told a transplant was my only hope. I received that gift on Feb. 18, 2024, but the journey was far from over. My kidneys failed under the strain. I spent 11 months in the hospital, survived a ventilator and a tracheotomy, and was nearly placed in hospice care.
The doctors told my family to say their final goodbyes. But instead of letting go, I woke up.
I spent the following months relearning how to stand and walk. Today, I am finally home, but my life remains tethered to a dialysis machine three days a week. I am currently on the kidney transplant list at Emory Hospital in Atlanta, and my medical team has been clear: a living donor is my best path back to a full life.
I am sharing my story because someone reading this has the power to change my future. I have five beautiful granddaughters. I want to be there to see them graduate from college and walk down the aisle.
My faith is strong, and I know the perfect kidney is out there. If you have ever felt a calling to help another human being in the most profound way possible, please consider reaching out. You don’t have to have all the answers yet — you just have to be willing to ask the question.
If you are interested in learning more about becoming a living donor or have questions about my journey, please email me at Kidneyforjuju@gmail.com.
You could be the miracle I’ve been praying for.
With hope and gratitude, Jerri Bullock Bender, Putnam County