Seeing the Reality of Kidney Disease Inspired Me to Donate: Victoria Piecara’s Living Kidney Donation Story

My decision to donate became deeply personal after a major moment in my life. In December 2023, at around 4 a.m. on the day after my husband and I returned home from eloping to the Bahamas, he was having trouble breathing. I thought it was nothing serious and just told him to go back to sleep. When he woke up later that morning, he was totally out of it and couldn’t walk.

We went to the hospital and they said he had pneumonia and was in Stage 5 kidney failure. They did a kidney biopsy and diagnosed him with IgA nephropathy. We were completely blindsided. Just one day after saying “through sickness and in health,” we were suddenly facing a diagnosis that would change everything.

From that point on, I saw firsthand how much kidney disease impacts not only the person diagnosed but everyone who loves them. There were doctor appointments, treatments, exhaustion, uncertainty, lifestyle changes, and the emotional weight of not knowing what comes next. Watching someone you love go through that changes your perspective in a powerful way.

He started dialysis in February 2024. I thought about donating, but then in March 2024, I was in a freak accident. At that point, I didn’t look into testing anymore because I needed to recover.

We thought we had a potential donor for him, but then we found out the person did not want to move forward anymore. We did use social media to try to find a donor, but nobody stepped up. At that point, I started thinking about donating again. We have three kids and I was the only one working, so I wasn’t sure how we could do it.

It was not a decision I took lightly. I thought about my family, my children, recovery, and the risks. I asked questions and made sure I understood what donation would mean physically and emotionally. Once I had the information, I felt confident in my decision.

I started my testing in October 2025. Everything went smoothly, and I was approved to donate. I was not a match for my husband, so we went through the Voucher Program. I donated on April 15, 2026.

I am two weeks out and I feel wonderful. Recovery has gone better than I expected. The first few days were the hardest, especially the gas discomfort after surgery, but the incision pain was manageable. I only needed one dose of narcotic pain medication the first night and was able to stop regular pain medication quickly.

Walking often, using a pillow for support, heating pads, and taking recovery day by day has helped me so much. I feel stronger every day. What surprised me most was how resilient the body can be.

My kidney went to a woman in her mid-50s in Pennsylvania who also has three children. I just wrote a letter to her today. When I started this process, I wanted to be anonymous because I didn’t want the recognition or attention. I actually posted on Facebook two days before my surgery to let my family know I was doing it. Now that I’ve done it, I feel differently. I’d like to tell her that we did this together.

This experience made me realize that a kidney donation is so much more than a surgery—it can give someone freedom, more time, better health, and hope. It can mean fewer limitations, more energy, and more moments with the people they love.

Living donation is deeply personal, and everyone has their own reasons. Mine came down to seeing the reality of kidney disease and loving someone who lives with it. What my husband has gone through—unless you have lived it, you don’t realize what someone with kidney disease has to go through day in and day out. I wanted to turn that experience into hope for another person.

I am proud of my decision and grateful I was able to donate. My hope in sharing my story is that it encourages others to learn about living donation and understand how one selfless choice can truly change lives.