Success Story

Make a Difference:

When I was a newborn, doctors diagnosed me with pyelonephritis, a urinary tract infection that progressed to my kidneys. The disease kept me in and out of the hospital for the first 12 years of my life. I went on to survive another 12 years with only 25 percent kidney function. Without asking, my brother volunteered to donate a kidney to me. And when it started to fail years later, my husband gave me one of his kidneys. 

I am one of the fortunate ones. Not only did I have at least two people in my life willing to donate a kidney to me, but they were both a good match. My experience as a kidney patient inspired me to want to help others who are in a similar health situation. You can do the same. If you have been diagnosed with kidney disease, talk to your loved ones about being tested for the disease. If you have received a kidney transplant, encourage friends and family members to consider signing up to be organ donors. And support the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP). AAKP strives to improve the lives of all kidney patients and their families. When you donate to AAKP, all contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. AAKP has been granted Tax Exempt Status by the Internal Revenue Service under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Roberta Wager, RN, MSN
AAKP Board Member & Two-time Kidney Transplant Recipient