At 66, I Donated to Generate a Voucher for My Wife: Wade Byrum’s Kidney Donation Story

Our story began several years ago. My wife had been diagnosed with a kidney disease that would erode the function of her kidneys over time and likely require a transplant one day.

When we moved from Charlotte to Wake Forest, North Carolina, in April 2025, my wife’s nephrologist recommended that we get connected with Duke Medical Transplant Center in Durham since it would be less than an hour from us.

We knew her kidneys were continuing to lose function. What we did not realize until one day in May at Duke was that a transplant was no longer “years down the road”—it was urgent.

We heard and learned many difficult things that day, but there was also encouragement and hope. Because of a wonderful program offered by the National Kidney Registry (NKR), in which Duke participates, we learned that if a person donated on my wife’s behalf, even if they were not a direct match (as I was not), she would benefit tremendously.

I immediately enrolled in the process and said “yes” to the opportunity of having a donor mentor to guide me. The evaluation process at Duke was thorough and amazingly caring and professional! They checked my kidney function to ensure that a donated kidney would work well for someone else while my remaining kidney would continue to function well for me. At times I felt confident I would get the green light. At other times, past medical challenges raised concerns.

My mentor, who had donated a few years earlier, shared wisdom and insights from her pre-surgery, surgery, and post-surgery experience. She kept in touch with me and made herself available as I learned more and had more questions.

One Friday afternoon at the end of October, my wife and I were out walking when I got a call from someone at Duke who mentioned a surgery date of November 12! I had kept in touch with my donor coordinator at Duke, inquiring about my situation and reminding her I was more than ready to donate. At last, we had a date!

I was thrilled that the same surgeon I had consulted with much earlier would perform my surgery. On the day of my surgery, we arrived at Duke at 3:30 a.m., as scheduled. I was in surgery by 6:00 a.m. and finished around 10:00 a.m. I learned that my left kidney went to someone in the South, and I trust and pray that the recipient is wonderfully blessed by my donation.

After a single night in the hospital, we headed home. At age 66, I heeded the instructions to walk, hydrate, and rest. After a few days of two naps a day, I settled into a rhythm of a daily afternoon nap for the next few weeks. I was able to ease into working from home and stopped pain medications except for acetaminophen after just a week.

Two-plus months after my donation surgery, I no longer have pain and do not even need acetaminophen. I still have some minor discomfort on my left side, but it continues to dissipate. I’ve been able to ease back into exercise beyond walking, and I’m grateful for that.

Now, we are waiting on God and Duke to find the right match for my wife.

Was what I went through easy? All things considered, it was. It was an easy decision to be willing to donate. While several of our friends began the donation process, I am glad I was the one who actually donated.

The entire process, including testing, surgery, and recovery, was relatively easy. I knew recovery would require patience and a focus on rest and recovery. Knowing that my donation would greatly benefit my wife and bless another person in need of a kidney made donating an easy decision.

Lastly, I am grateful for the NKR’s wonderful program and the amazing and caring medical team at Duke!

About the Author

Wade grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, along with his twin brother and two older siblings. He met his wife, June, at NC State University at the end of their freshman year. They were married shortly after graduation. Many years later, they have three grown children and three grandchildren. Wade has worked in the power industry for 45 years. His priorities in his life are centered on life with God, time with family, travel, and respites on the Carolina coast. Through the joys and challenges of life together as husband and wife, Wade and June continue to look to God, who again and again shows Himself to be faithful.