My Kidney Donation Story: Laura Fadely

At the end of December 2024, I saw a post on social media about living donation. I didn’t even think anything of it in that moment—I just scrolled on by.  

I knew you could donate a kidney to a family member, but kidney disease had not touched my life. It never occurred to me that you could donate to someone you didn’t know. After I saw the post, I started thinking about it and I decided to look into it. I was really excited about the possibility of donating to someone. 

On New Year’s Eve, I went online and filled out the form. I didn’t know what to expect, but the next day I got an email back. That started months of testing and blood work and meeting with doctors. 

I didn’t tell anyone when I first started the process because I didn’t know how they would react, and I didn’t want to be talked out of it.  

My close friends and family were all great, and although some of my loved ones had reservations, the amount of education the medical team gave me beforehand prepared me to answer any questions that were asked. This isn’t something a person could take lightly—even if they wanted to. 

I was approved, and I donated on April 22, 2025. My recovery was a little rough, but I anticipated that. The surgeon told me I would feel ready to go home the same day as the surgery, but I needed a couple of days in the hospital.  

It was intense, but it was nothing compared to being sick enough to need a kidney. So if that’s what it took, that was OK, as long as it would help someone. After about a month I was feeling back to normal. 

I wanted to be in contact with the person who received my kidney, but the transplant team told me that it would be up to the recipient.  

Less than a month after the surgery, I got an email requesting contact, so I sent him a message. He told me a little bit about why he needed a kidney and how much he had improved since the transplant. I would love to meet sometime in the future, but for now we just check in every so often. 

To anyone considering kidney donation, I would say just do it. If you are healthy and there is nothing medically holding you back, there is no reason not.

About the Author

Born and raised in Colorado Springs, Laura now lives in Castle Rock, Colorado, with her husband, Nathan. The two have been together for 19 years and share life with their two children, Luna and Jonah. A passionate historian, she earned her bachelor’s degree in history in May 2023 and is currently pursuing her master’s, which she will complete in May 2026. With Indigenous heritage shaping both her personal and academic journey, she is especially dedicated to Indigenous history. Her long-term goal is to work closely with tribal communities to help build, repair, and sustain meaningful relationships between Indigenous peoples and the broader historical field. She hopes to contribute to more inclusive and collaborative approaches to history, both in scholarship and public engagement. When she’s not researching or writing, she loves reading and spending time with her family and friends. She describes her non–directed kidney donation in April 2025 as one of the most meaningful experiences of her life.