My Kidney Donation Story: Mohamed Idris

When my younger brother Abdul was hospitalized at the beginning of 2025, our family’s world shifted overnight. In the middle of a hectic hospital hallway, a doctor told us he needed to start dialysis immediately.

It was just the two of us in the room when the news came. We sat there quietly for a moment, then hugged and cried together. Watching someone you love struggle with their health is a kind of pain you can’t fully explain—you just feel it in your chest, heavy and real.

Right then, I knew I wanted to donate my kidney to him. I didn’t know what it would require or how long the process would be. All I knew was that I wanted to help my brother.

Having that initial conversation with him wasn’t easy—there were so many emotions on both sides—but the possibility had already been sitting in the back of my mind since 2022, when we first learned his kidneys were deteriorating. By the time he was hospitalized this year, I was mentally prepared to take that step.

For me, donating wasn’t a heroic decision—it was simply what you do for family when you’re able. I had faith that everything would work out. When the UCI medical team introduced me to the National Kidney Registry (NKR), I immediately began the process.

Finding out that my brother and I were a perfect match was one of the happiest moments of my life. That news lifted so much weight off our shoulders and gave us real hope moving forward.

Working with the NKR and the UCI kidney surgical team was genuinely an incredible experience. Their professionalism, compassion, and attention to detail made a difficult journey feel steady and organized.

Starting at the end of May, we went through thorough evaluations and testing—everything was done with so much care to make sure we had the safest and best outcome possible. Our surgery was scheduled for early September.

Thankfully, the surgery went smoothly, and everything was a success. My recovery took about three weeks before I felt close to 90%, and I followed my doctors’ advice to walk every day, which really helped.

For anyone considering donating—whether to a family member or even a stranger—I can honestly say this: trust the process, trust the care you’ll receive, and trust the incredible people at the NKR and the UCI surgical team.

The feeling of helping someone you love, of giving someone a chance at a healthier life, is something words can barely capture. It truly is indescribable.

About the Author

Mohamed Idris is of Nubian (North Sudanese) descent, but was born and raised in Saudi Arabia. He moved to California in 2008 at age 15 and became a U.S. citizen in 2014.  He studied mechanical engineering at the University of California, Irvine, where he developed a passion for applying engineering principles to real-world challenges. Mohamed is now a product manager in the medical diagnostics industry, specializing in the manufacturing and operational oversight of protein sequencing instruments.

In his personal life, Mohamed enjoys traveling to new places, staying active through regular workouts, and spending time by the beach, which has become one of his favorite ways to reset and recharge. His cat, Sultana, who he has had for five years, has been a steady and comforting presence through many chapters of his life.