I Just Knew It Was Going to Be Successful, and It Was: Vicki Rhodes’ Kidney Donation Story

In March 2023, I came home from brunch with my best friend Jackie, sat down at my computer and found an email asking if I wanted to register to be a kidney donor.

I didn’t hesitate. I said yes.

I was already on the bone marrow registry. A friend of mine had her son’s life saved through it, so I understood the power of these programs, but I had never been called to donate. This felt like my moment.

I quietly started the process with the National Kidney Registry. I didn’t tell anybody because I wasn’t sure I’d be eligible and I anticipated judgement. So I kept it to myself and just moved forward.

At the time, I didn’t know anyone who was sick or needed a kidney. I was planning to be a non-directed donor and just so excited at the prospect of saving someone’s life.

By June, my tests were coming back strong. They were looking good, so I decided to share the news with Jackie.

I braced for the reaction I’d been dreading. Instead, she went quiet for a moment and then said: “Oh my God. My sister-in-law, Michele, is on the waitlist.”

I couldn’t believe it. Jackie had never mentioned it. Her husband’s family has polycystic kidney disease (PKD), and I had no idea.

My mind immediately went back to that morning in March — the brunch, the drive home, the email waiting in my inbox. We hadn’t talked about kidneys or illness or any of it that day. I don’t have any other word for it except miraculous. It felt like divine intervention.

We started texting feverishly. Her sister-in-law and I share the same blood type. I wanted to donate to her specifically if I could, but we agreed not to say anything until we knew I was a match.

In June, Jackie was hosting a family barbecue and asked if I was ready to tell her. I called, Jackie handed over the phone, and I said: “You don’t know me, but if I’m eligible, I’d like to direct my kidney donation to you.”

Jackie told me later that she went completely white and was speechless.

Her sister-in-law had been waiting a long time. Three people had already come forward to donate on her behalf, and none had been eligible. She was overjoyed, not just by the possibility, but by the gesture itself. Technically I was a stranger to her. 

On July 5, I got the call: I was a match.

I finally met her in person at a barbecue at Jackie’s house in August. I donated on September 8, 2023.

I never felt afraid. Not once. After all those tests, I felt more confident in my body than ever. I take good care of myself, and I just knew it was going to be a success, and it was.

She felt better almost immediately. Today, she’s traveling, going on cruises, living the life she had before her kidneys started failing. She had been on the verge of starting dialysis when I came into the picture. She never had to.

My recovery humbled me in ways I didn’t expect. I never had surgery before. I rarely even get sick. Suddenly I was dependent on other people for basic things, and it gave me a profound appreciation for my health, mobility, and what my body is capable of. Being able to share a piece of myself to restore someone’s health and spirit was one of the greatest honors of my life.

If you’re considering living kidney donation, I’ll tell you what I’d tell anyone: start the process. Don’t wait. It is more rewarding than I have words for, and it has brought an entire new community of amazing people into my life.

About the Author

Vicki grew up in Long Island as one of six siblings, where she still resides today. After earning her business degree from Farmingdale College, she spent 15 years in the insurance industry. She then chose to step away from the corporate world to raise her two children, spending the last nine years fully immersed in school events, field trips, and the everyday moments that mattered most. Now that her children are older, Vicki is excited to begin a new chapter. She’s currently enrolled in the Hofstra Paralegal Certification Program and enjoying the challenge of returning to her studies. When she’s not working toward her certification, she loves advocating for living donor awareness, exercising, listening to podcasts, and spending time with family and friends. She was also invited to join the Kidney Donor Athletes in the 2026 hike the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim Challenge to advocate for living kidney donor awareness.