Matt's Story
After losing a kidney to cancer as a young child, Matt has spent most of his life with one kidney. That kidney got him through numerous wrestling matches with his brothers, Eric and Brett, endless hours on the Woodinville sports fields, 4 years of rigorous studies at Gonzaga University, loyal dedication to his favorite PNW teams (Gonzaga basketball, Mariners, Sonics, UW football), hours on the golf course, a fast-paced career and great times with friends and family. Well, that kidney has had enough, but Matt has not! Having gone into complete kidney failure over a year ago, Matt is entering his second year on dialysis and is in need of a new kidney to ensure a healthy life far into the future. The sooner a person can get off dialysis, the better the medical outcome.
Matt is currently getting dialysis treatments from the University of Washington Medical Center and that is where his kidney transplant will take place, once a compatible kidney is located. The challenge is that there are about 100,000 people in the US on the waiting list for a kidney transplant, with the average waiting time being 3-5 years. With the expected survival rate for dialysis patients being 5 years, you can appreciate why all of us who love and rely upon Matt so much are searching for his perfect kidney fit; a hero to give Matt a fighting chance! We hope you will help in that search. Matt loves life and lives it to its fullest. We know that Matt’s new kidney will have the time of its life – just like the first one had for the decades it was with Matt. Let's help Matt get off dialysis and on with the rest of his life!
Efforts like this only succeed when they reach far and wide. Although it’s one kidney that Matt needs, it usually takes many people going through the evaluation process to find an eligible and fitting match. We would greatly appreciate your help. Please see the links below to learn about the Living Kidney program at UW, and help us spread the word!
