Hi! This is my wife, Michelle. She needs a kidney because she has Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), caused by a random genetic mutation she’s had since birth. This means the kidneys she was born with are filled with cysts that prevent them from working properly. She received a kidney transplant in 2003 from her dad, Vern. Vern passed on July 2, 2023 at age 80. Even though a part of him is still alive in Michelle, the kidney he donated is starting to fail as well. Michelle’s doctors expect that her kidney function will decline to the point where she will require dialysis in 2025.
You can help!
Most people can live and thrive with one kidney! (In fact, I know this personally: find out how.) The purpose of this website is to ask you to consider becoming a living kidney donor for my wife. If you feel called to, please either click the button below to begin the donor evaluation process, or share this website far and wide so we can find a generous individual who can!
Please give honest answers, and when prompted, indicate that you’d like the donation to go to Michelle Miller. Her birthdate is May 1, 1973. (The screening questionnaire will ask.)
Frequently-Asked Questions
- How will this impact my health?
- That question is difficult for me to answer personally, but you can live a long and fulfilling life with just one kidney. Talk to your doctor first about becoming a living donor.
- What will it cost?
- There will be no cost to you. The evaluation, testing, and transplant are all paid for entirely by our health insurance. Routine care in the years after the surgery is covered by your insurance's annual physical policy. Your employer's Short Term Disability insurance may cover your lost wages during your recovery, but please verify that with your employer or policy issuer.
- Can I remain anonymous?
- Absolutely! You may remain anonymous if you choose.
- What if my remaining kidney fails?
- If for whatever reason you need a kidney transplant later in life, as a donor, you would automatically be moved to the top of the waiting list for a donor kidney.
- What if I’m not a direct match for Michelle?
- We would encourage you to participate in a paired donation, where you could provide a kidney to another compatible donor-recipient pair, and their donor would be paired with Michelle. There are so many people in the situation we’re in that it would be a guaranteed pair-up. Read more about paired donation here.
- Are you fundraising or asking for money?
- No. Absolutely not. Any fundraiser that uses our pictures, names or stories is not connected with us, and is a scam.
A little about me
I’m Robert, Michelle’s husband. I’m a web developer, and I designed and built this site. I tried to donate my kidney to Michelle, and even found out we were a direct match! Crushingly, during the evaluation process, doctors discovered that I don’t actually have two fully-formed kidneys. I have no kidney on my right side, and I have one kidney on the left that has a smaller, kind-of quarter-kidney that’s attached to it in a peculiar way. That abnormality disqualified me from being a donor because of the risk to me. But I’m otherwise fine! After 43 years, what I learned is that I’ve never had two kidneys, and I’m healthy and active!
How else can I help?
We have stickers!
Would you like some? I’d be thrilled if I could send you some to (legally and ethically) put anywhere people can see them. Send an ordinary, self-addressed, stamped envelope to:
Robert and Michelle3245 University Ave. #299
San Diego, CA 92104
And I’ll fill it with a handful of stickers and mail it back to you! The stickers are three inches square, and made of cleanly-removable vinyl.
Thank you for your help and consideration!
Please give honest answers, and when prompted, indicate that you’d like the donation to go to Michelle Miller. Her birthdate is May 1, 1973. (The screening questionnaire will ask.)