My Kidney Donation Story: Karen Mitterholzer
This is the most remarkable experience I have ever had! I’ve always checked the organ donor box on my driver’s license, but as I was heading into my 60s, I pondered whether or not my organs would be viable much longer. I had never heard about living organ donation—I didn’t know that was even possible.
I had been watching a British TV show about the doctors, nurses, and patients at a kidney transplant ward. It was a TV drama, but it was the first I heard about live kidney donation. I kept thinking, I wish I had done this when I was younger, never thinking I could be a donor at 66 years old. In one episode, a 68-year-old man had passed, and on the show, the characters were excited to get his kidney … a life was saved at the last minute, in the usual TV drama. I was stunned at the possibility that a donor could be an older adult.
The very next day, I started my research and reached out for information on living kidney donation, and my journey began. I didn’t have to think about it—it just felt right. I was really excited to start the process.
I wanted my recipient to have the healthiest kidney possible, so I started taking better care of myself—walking every day, doing yoga two to three times a week, and cutting back on red meat. I ate more whole grains, added beets to my salads or roasted them in the oven, and I cut up a clove or two of garlic, let it sit for 10 minutes to produce enzymes that are good for the immune system. I ate a quarter-cup of onions a day, plenty of cucumbers, and a quarter-cup of blueberries.
I have never felt better since I got into these habits. My life just changed completely. When I started testing, all my numbers were within normal ranges. Everything just clicked for me. I came out of this process completely changed in how I take care of my body.
My doctor told me I had actually saved two lives: the person who received my kidney and the person behind her on the waitlist, who went to the top of the list when she was taken off it.
Karen Mitterholzer
On January 14, 2025, I donated to a stranger. My doctor told me I had actually saved two lives: the person who received my kidney and the person behind her on the waitlist, who went to the top of the list when she was taken off it.
They asked if I would like to contact my recipient, and I said no. I didn’t want them to feel obligated. I do know my recipient is a female, and I left it open that she could reach out to me if she wanted to. On my follow-ups, I always ask if her kidney is still working, and they say yes, perfectly! That’s all that matters.
I spent the night in the hospital and went home the next day. I healed very well. I had bunion surgery a year prior, and that surgery was more difficult to recover from.
I am a flight attendant, and part of our duties includes lifting heavy bags, so I needed six weeks off. Otherwise, I would have gone back after a week—that’s how well I healed. Donor Shield paid my lost wages—it was not a financial hardship at all.
I didn’t tell anyone I was doing this till just before the surgery, but I decided I really needed to start talking about it now, because it could motivate someone else to take this awesome and rewarding journey! I proudly wear my “Living Donor” T-shirt, jacket, and pins, hoping to start a conversation that could very well lead to another person changing a life.
About the Author
Karen was born and raised in Cleveland, but she has recently embraced a new adventure by relocating to the beautiful red rocks of St. George, Utah. A seasoned flight attendant with a passion for connecting with people, she is known for her warm heart, optimism, and her signature question: “How can I help?” Family means everything to her—she’s a proud sister, a loving aunt to six nieces and nephews, and an even prouder “great-aunt” to 11 grandnieces and nephews. At home, she’s happiest with her two adorable CavaPoos by her side. She often jokes that she is the classic “old lady and her dogs.” Whether she’s in the skies, spending time with family, or exploring her new community, Karen’s goal is to smile at everyone she passes. You never know what someone is going through, and a nice smile from a stranger can brighten someone’s day. In her spare time, Karen enjoys reading, gardening, and baking sweet treats.