My Kidney Donation Story: Kathryn Wiley
I dated someone for four and a half years, and a year and a half into our relationship, he had kidney failure and needed to have a transplant. It was IGA nephropathy, and he had no idea—he had been healthy all his life.
I knew nothing about kidney donation, but it’s in my DNA as a person to be able to do something like this. I remember being with him in the doctor’s office and learning about finding a donor. He said he would never ask someone to give a kidney.
Fast forward to when he was almost at the point where he needed to go on dialysis. I was having work done on my house, and there was a 23-year-old worker. He overheard the discussion and said: “I have two healthy kidneys if he wants one.”
That night, because of what he had said, I did some research and found out about paired kidney exchange. The next time the guy came back to my house, I asked him if he was serious about donating a kidney. He said he didn’t really know anything about it, but he would be open to it.
I donated on August 8, 2023, through the Voucher Program. My kidney went to a young woman, and because of my donation, my partner was able to get a transplant, and both of them were able to avoid dialysis.
Kathryn Wiley
He went through the testing, and it turned out he had minor kidney stones, so he was not able to donate. It was amazing that he would consider doing it. It took him going through that journey for me to say, could I do this?
I took a step back. I am a strong believer, and I prayed about it for three weeks. At the end of the three weeks, I felt like I wanted to make the call. I knew that if I was not able to give, they would not let me. I talked to my boyfriend about it and he said no, but I was confident. I knew the medical team would take care of me.
I donated on August 8, 2023, through the Voucher Program. My kidney went to a young woman, and because of my donation, my partner was able to get a transplant, and both of them were able to avoid dialysis.
My recipient and I are like sisters now. We talk often. He and I are not together anymore, but I still consider donating a kidney to him one of the best two decisions I have made in my life. The other is adopting two children: I have four and I adopted two.
From the very beginning, the whole process of learning about being able to donate, that I didn’t need two kidneys to live, and that if I was healthy enough, I could donate to save someone else’s life, really resonated with me. I know there are so many people who are like me, who would consider donating if they knew more about it. We need more living donors!
Every person who was a part of the process was incredible. It was an easy process, but it would still have been worth it, even if it hadn’t been easy. The first two days after surgery were pretty brutal, but that was two days for me. For the people who received a transplant, their whole lives changes.
The whole experience was so rewarding, not in the sense of accolades but in hearing about how well my recipient is doing. Knowing that she is living a full life, and that I could do that, is absolutely amazing. It’s just human connection on another level.
About the Author
Kathryn Wiley is a mother of six, a creative force in business and real estate, and a strong believer whose life is shaped by courage, intention, and faith. She brings a grounded, loving presence to her family, encouraging her children and those around her to live with strength, independence, and purpose.
In her work, Kathryn blends design, short-term rentals, and investment strategy with an artist’s eye. She sees beauty in life, in people, and in the details of art and architecture, and she loves transforming properties into spaces that feel warm, meaningful, and alive. Whether shaping a home, a business idea, or a moment with her kids, Kathryn leads with heart, resilience, and an unshakable belief that beauty and opportunity can always be created from wherever you begin.