I Never Thought Twice About Donating: Carrie Pavis’s Kidney Donation Story

Three years ago, my husband, Mike, was diagnosed with a very rare kidney disorder called fibronectin glomerulopathy. He has been type 2 diabetic for about 25 years. We thought it was from diabetes, but we found out it was from this disorder. There is little known about it, and there is no therapy or cure.

When we moved to Idaho, we found a great nephrologist. He knew something more than diabetic damage was going on. He ultimately discovered the correct diagnosis. Mike’s renal function kept going down. At first, they didn’t think he would be a candidate for transplant because of the disorder. But they started looking into it and we talked to more doctors, and it was decided that we could move forward with a transplant.

I automatically said I would try to donate, even though I am not the same blood type. We started the journey in December 2024. Mike began dialysis in March 2025. I started the testing in January, and by May I was ready to donate.

They made my husband a microsite and we sent letters to everyone we knew and put it on Facebook. He had 15 people register to donate to him, but out of all of them, I was the only one who was healthy enough to donate.

I donated at Intermountain Hospital in Salt Lake City on May 28, 2025. This would get Mike a voucher and move him to the top of the recipient list. My kidney went to a young man. I don’t know where he was from.

In July, my husband got the call that they had found a match for him, and his surgery was scheduled for September 2. It was so fast.

Both our daughters have the same disorder he has. One is showing signs of diminishing function, but she is making major health changes that are helping. Our other daughter is not showing signs, and our son does not have it.

Some people have asked me why I would donate to my husband if there was a chance one of my daughters might need a kidney in the future, but it was a no-brainer for me. I wanted my husband to live. There are going to be so many breakthroughs in the future, and I felt confident that if my daughters ever needed help, there would be options available.

I am a very giving person, so I never thought twice about donating. I thought, if I can do this, let’s do this. Even if someone had been a match for him, I would still have donated to get him an extra voucher, which he could use or donate to a daughter if needed.

Recovery took about three months. I have had no issues living with only one kidney. I would do it again in a heartbeat!

My husband is doing great—he’s had no issues with his new kidney, which came from someone in Illinois. I wrote a letter to my recipient and have not heard anything. My husband wrote to his donor and he responded. It’s been a stressful but wonderful journey.

About the Author

Carrie Pavis was born in Chico, California, and raised in the small town of Durham, California. She began working at a young age, and after graduating from Fairview High School, she took a job at a restaurant in Chico, where she met her future husband. She became a registered dental assistant and enjoyed that profession for several years. After she and her husband married and started a family, she left dental assisting to raise their children. As the children grew older, she became more involved in their family business. Together, she and her husband owned and operated a very successful Mexican restaurant. Carrie and her husband have been married 34 years and have three adult children. In 2022, they sold their business and moved to Star, Idaho, where they are enjoying retired life.