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During Donate Life Month, celebrated each April, we aim to educate others about organ, eye and tissue donation while also honoring donors and the countless lives they have saved and healed through this gift of life. Through HCA Healthcare’s nine transplant centers, we strive to increase access to life-saving transplants for patients in our communities and throughout the nation. Our skilled transplant teams performed more than 1,350 solid organ transplants in 2024.
“Last year, the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), which manages the national registry for organ transplants and is administered by the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS), announced their challenge for the transplant community to reach 60,000 deceased donor transplants by the end of 2026,” said James Pittman, MSN, RN, assistant vice president of transplant services at HCA Healthcare. “We are committed to not only helping reach this milestone of deceased donor transplants, but also increasing the number of living donor transplants through advocacy and education. Organ donation is a powerful, selfless decision that saves lives.”
Register to be an organ donor on Donate Life America’s website.
As we recognize Donate Life Month, shining a light on kidney donation is particularly important. In the United States, there are nearly 90,000 people in the US waiting for a kidney donation, each facing three to five years waiting time for a kidney from a deceased donor. Recently, one of HCA Healthcare’s expert transplant surgeons sat down with the American Medical Association as part of their What Doctors Wish Patients Knew™ series. Below, we share an excerpt from the article originally pushed on the American Medical Association’s website.
What doctors wish patients knew about becoming a living kidney donor
The decision to donate a kidney is not just an act of generosity; it’s a lifesaving act that provides hope for someone in need. Every year, thousands of people wait anxiously for a lifesaving transplant, their futures uncertain as they cling to the possibility of finding a match. But amid the statistics and the struggles, there are everyday heroes – people who step forward to share the gift of life, often with a stranger.
Kidney transplants are the most common organ transplant in the U.S. Of the over 120,000 people awaiting a life-saving transplant, over 90,000 are waiting for a kidney. Last year, about 28,000 kidney transplants were performed, 6,000 of which were from living donors.
The AMA’s What Doctors Wish Patients Knew™ series gives physicians a platform to share what they want patients to understand about today’s health care headlines.
In this installment Jennifer R. George, MD, a general abdominal transplant surgeon at HCA Healthcare’s Las Palmas Medical Center in El Paso, Texas, took the time to discuss becoming a living kidney donor. As a leader in living kidney transplants, HCA Healthcare performed 351 living kidney donor transplants in 2024, which was 5.5% of living kidney donor transplants performed nationally.
HCA Healthcare is a member of the AMA Health System Program, which provides enterprise solutions to equip leadership, physicians and care teams with resources to help drive the future of medicine.
Why kidney donation matters
When on the waitlist for a kidney transplant, most people wait three to five years for a deceased donor kidney, but a living donor transplant can be scheduled within months if one is available. Dialysis can sometimes also be avoided altogether.
A living donor kidney on average may last 15 and 20 years, however, many transplanted kidneys out live the recipient, fully functioning at the time of death. In 2023, a patient who received a living kidney donor transplant from her brother celebrated 57 years with her donated kidney. This transplant occurred in 1966, considering the all the innovation in transplant over the years, especially in the last three, the average life span of kidney transplants will only increase.
“Kidney donation saves lives. Remaining on dialysis leads to cardiovascular health complications,” said Dr. George. “Kidney donation is essential in helping those with kidney disease avoid developing those health complications, allowing them to live longer and healthier lives.”
Whether you are donating a kidney to a loved one, friend, acquaintance or stranger, it is a transformative, lifesaving act. It is the ultimate gift you can give someone.
Being healthy is key for donors
“The most important thing to keep in mind is you shouldn’t rule yourself out from being a donor if it’s something you’re interested in,” said Dr. George. “Don’t hesitate to submit an application to your transplant center because they’re going to do all the workup that’s necessary to make sure that you’re healthy and that you are not going to have any issues after you donate a kidney. Let us do all of the workup to make sure that everything looks good.”
Additionally, some studies have found that living donors live longer than the average person because the workup ensures that donors are very healthy people. You can continue to do the same activities you could before donating. It will not alter your lifestyle.
Most donors are healthy and don’t require changes to their lifestyle afterward. “There’s actually a group of donors who go out to climb mountains together, run marathons and do a lot of extreme sports, which is definitely your decision to do,” said Dr. George.
A living donor advocate will help
“You’re going to meet a living-donor advocate who is separate from the transplant team,” Dr. George said. “Their only interest is making sure that you are staying safe as a donor and that you don’t feel pressured and that your interests are being protected.”
This is to make sure that “the donor doesn’t feel pressured and that you have the support you need after you donate,” she added.
The AMA Code of Medical Ethics says that “enabling individuals to donate nonvital organs is in keeping with the goals of treating illness and relieving suffering so long as the benefits to both donor and recipient outweigh the risks to both.” Learn more with the AMA about transplantation of organs from living donors.
Compatibility testing is the first step
“Once a transplant center receives your application, their living donor coordinator will reach out to you and give you some educational materials,” Dr. George explained. This helps to ensure “you’re more familiar with the process.”
Then, “the first thing that most centers in the country will do is blood work to make sure that you’re a match for the person you want to donate to,” she said. “If you’re not a match, there are other options that you can consider to help your recipient get a kidney, even if it’s not your own.”
There is kidney paired donation
“People want to donate to a friend or family member or someone they know, but sometimes they are not a match for them, and if that is the case, you can do something called a kidney paired donation,” said Dr. George. “A paired donation is when we find another pair and their donor doesn’t match to their recipient, but that other donor matches to your recipient.”
“So, everyone ends up with a living-donor kidney. It may not be the person who you initially intended to donate the kidney to, but you’re still helping your loved one get a living donor kidney,” she added. “It’s a really good way to help someone get a very good kidney and to get them off dialysis faster.”
Continue reading “What doctors wish patients knew about becoming a living kidney donor” article featuring Dr. Jennifer George of HCA Healthcare’s El Paso affiliate Las Palmas Medical Center.
Meet HCA Healthcare kidney donor and recipients
When patients experience end-stage renal disease, or kidney failure, their kidneys are only functioning at only a fraction of their normal capacity. People with kidney failure need either dialysis or a kidney transplant to stay alive. According to Donate Life America, 86% of patients on the U.S. transplant list are in need of a kidney. Below, we introduce you to some of the people that make up HCA Healthcare’s kidney transplant community.
From transplant recipients to donor families and living donors, learn how the generosity of organ donation positively impacted the lives of transplant recipients.
Friendship shines as amid living donor kidney transplant (San Antonio, Texas)
Marcus Compton and Jose Aguirre became friends more than a decade ago. In 2024, Jose received a stage 4 kidney disease diagnosis and was encouraged to start exploring the kidney transplant process.
Marcus saw his friend Jose’s struggles firsthand and decided to get tested as a potential living kidney donor. When the tests came back, Marcus learned he was a match. Although he felt nervous about the decision to donate his kidney, he was also excited about the opportunity to help his friend.
“It was a huge thing for me. I had never had surgery before,” Marcus told San Antonio CBS affiliate KENS 5. “But when I found out I was a match, I knew it was the right thing to do.”
“In my humble opinion, this was an easy decision for Marcus,” shared Gloria Delao-Garza, an HCA Healthcare colleague at HCA Healthcare affiliate Methodist Healthcare System and Marcus’ living donor advocate. “Although he sat through a day of tests and education, his decision to donate was made before he walked through these doors. Having the support of his family and friends, especially his wife, solidified and encouraged him to proceed. Working with Marcus was truly inspiring.”
On November 13, 2024, the skilled team at Methodist Hospital I Specialty and Transplant successfully performed a life-saving kidney transplant surgery for Jose.
“My life hasn’t changed much — except that I have a scar to remind me of the difference I made in someone’s life. That’s the real gift. I see how it changed Jose’s life, and now I want to advocate for others to become donors, too.”
Marcus Compton, Kidney Donor
For those considering becoming an organ donor, Kelly Jo-Contreras, a post transplant coordinator at HCA Healthcare affiliate Methodist Hospital I Specialty and Transplant, recommends reaching out to learn more. “Ask the hard questions or even talk to someone that has actually done a living donation,” she said. “The magnitude of how a life can be changed with donation is beyond profound. The gratitude and love that is felt by the recipient is beyond compare.”
It’s what I was meant to do: Texas daughter donates kidney to her mom (Austin, Texas)
More than 30 years ago, HCA Healthcare transplant patient Michele Kirkpatrick was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. Her condition remained stable for decades with regular monitoring from her nephrologist and medication to manage symptoms. However, at a routine nephrology appointment two years ago, she received unexpected news – her kidney function had declined drastically and she would need a transplant.
Faced with the uncertainty of waiting on the transplant list, Michele sought care at HCA Healthcare affiliate St. David’s North Austin Medical Center under the guidance of the hospital’s surgical transplant program director, Dr. James Lim. She was approved for the transplant list within a few months but was advised that a living donor – preferably a family member or close friend – would significantly shorten the waiting period. Understanding the gravity of the request, Michele gently broached the topic with her family. Michele’s daughter, Amanda, eagerly signed up to be tested.
“When I found out my daughter was a match, I was overcome with a mix of emotion – relief, gratitude and a deep sense of humility,” Michele explained. With the test results in hand, her daughter made the decision to donate her kidney. “I never questioned donating my kidney – it felt like this was always part of my journey,” Amanda said. “It’s what I was meant to do.”
On Nov. 5, 2024, Michele and Amanda underwent the transplant surgery with the unwavering support of their loved ones. Today, Michele feels humbled by her daughter’s decision. “Receiving a kidney is not something I take lightly,” Michele said. “Every step I take now, I take with purpose. I’m following every instruction carefully because I want to honor this incredible gift – not just with my health, but with how I choose to live each day moving forward.”
“If you have the chance to be a donor, know that it’s not just about saving a life – it’s about giving hope, and being art of something bigger than yourself. There is no greater feeling than seeing someone thrive because of something you were able to give.”
Amanda Canary, Kidney Transplant Donor
Help me find my hero: Kidney transplant patient finds donor through the power of social media (Denver, Colorado)
HCA Healthcare patient Ivy Sabaini-Kizewski has a stranger she met on the internet and the skilled transplant team at HCA HealthONE Presbyterian St. Luke’s in Denver to thank for her life-saving kidney transplant.
In 2022, Ivy was battling an autoimmune diagnosis that caused scar tissue to form on her kidneys. After graduating from high school, she started dialysis while waiting for a kidney transplant. In her search for help identifying a living donor, Ivy turned to social media. “I figured my best chance was to go and ask the internet because it’s a powerful tool,” Ivy shared.
Ivy shared her story online, hoping that someone with an open heart would see her request, get tested and be willing to donate their kidney. Fortunately for Ivy, a woman named Katie Herrmann – who lived across the state – came across her post. “I actually was just scrolling through Facebook, had just gotten off work, and a friend of a friend had shared it and I thought, hmm,” Katie Herrmann told 9 News. “For me, it was honestly a really easy decision.”
Ivy was shocked to learn that Katie – a mother, wife and a complete stranger – wanted to get tested and donate her kidney if she was a match. The pair went into surgery on December 9, 2024, at HCA HealthONE Presbyterian St. Luke’s. “Given the critical shortage of kidneys, we are deeply grateful for individuals like Katie, who selflessly donated to a stranger,” said Dr. Raheel Jajja, a transplant surgeon at the hospital.
Months after the transplant, Ivy’s health has continued to improve. “From the moment I woke up, I felt so much better, like I had color in my skin again,” Ivy shared. Ivy’s living donor, Katie, has also experienced a speedy recovery and is back to playing volleyball and lifting weights again.
“I don’t think there will ever be anything I can do to thank or show my appreciation enough,” Ivy said. “But what I will do, and what I can do, is live every day with so much appreciation, live every day I can to the fullest. Go and enjoy those things I’ve missed out on, and do them all with Katie in mind.”
“Where else do you witness heroism daily? As living kidney donor nurse coordinators, we do. We see the pinnacle of human compassion, working alongside individuals who redefine selflessness. They choose surgery not for their own health but to save another’s life. We grasp the love for family, but to give this gift to a stranger? That’s truly remarkable. Heroes walk among us, and we are privileged to know some of them.”
Christine Opp, RN, Living Donor Coordinator at HCA HealthONE Presbyterian St. Luke’s
Did you know? The Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients collects and reports outcome data for every certified transplant center in the U.S. Recently, HCA HealthONE Presbyterian St. Luke’s scored a 97.95% on 90-day survival with a functioning kidney, 96.41% one-year survival with a functioning kidney and 97.56% one-year patient survival.
Texas girl donates her kidney to her father (San Antonio, Texas)
“If I had more kidneys to donate, I would do it all over again, even for strangers,” shared Itzel Guzman after sharing the gift of life with her father through a living kidney donation. “The process was smooth and the hospital staff made everything worth it.”
Juan Guzman lived with untreated diabetes for years. In 2022, severe symptoms led to a diagnosis of stage 5 kidney failure, the most advanced form of chronic kidney disease. Juan sought expert care at HCA Healthcare affiliate Methodist Hospital I Specialty and Transplant, which is equipped with the largest living kidney donor transplant programs in the nation.
Juan was placed on dialysis and needed a lifesaving kidney transplant. His daughter, Itzel, wanted to help and soon began the evaluation process to determine her eligibility to be his donor. Then came great news for the father-daughter duo, Itzel was a match. The San Antonio, Texas hospital care team guided Juan and Itzel through every step of the transplant process.
Soon after the successful kidney transplant, Juan was walking and full of life once again. Itzel extends her gratitude to Dr. Luke Shen, surgical director of kidney transplant at Methodist Healthcare System, for his skill and compassion during their journey. She notes that her father’s recovery was nothing short of extraordinary.
“It’s life-changing, not just for me, but for the recipient. It’s worth it, no matter how long the process takes,” Itzel shared.
Nurse cares for patients while on the transplant waiting list (Las Vegas, Nevada)
For 20 years, nurse Melanie Lopez has been a familiar face and dedicated caregiver at HCA Healthcare’s Southern Hills Hospital & Medical Center in Las Vegas, making a difference in countless lives. What many of patients don’t realize is that she has experience as a patient herself – as a kidney transplant recipient.
About four years ago, Melanie began dialysis after her doctors discovered her kidneys were not functioning properly. When her condition did not improve, Melanie was placed on the transplant waiting list. Despite her own health challenges, the critical care nurse continued to show up for her patients throughout two years of dialysis, driven by her desire to help others.
This year, Donate Life Month takes on a whole new meaning for Melanie. She celebrated her one-year kidney transplant anniversary on April 14, 2025 and hopes her story will inspire others to be conscious of their kidney function to prevent dialysis and register as organ donors. “You can change someone’s life, just like how organ donation did to me and my family,” said Melanie. “I was given an extension to enjoy life more.”
Melanie laced up her tennis shoes for the Hope Glows Fun Run/Walk supporting the Nevada Donor Network on April 26, 2025, to commemorate this milestone with her loved ones. She emphasized the importance of organ donation awareness initiatives because she wouldn’t be here without the support she received from the Nevada Donor Network and her colleagues at HCA Healthcare.
Register to be an organ donor on Donate Life America’s website.
