Meet Colleen Flanary

My daughter, Caitlin, was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) in her teens. PKD is a genetic disease, but 10% of cases are new mutations, as was the case for Caitlin. As researchers became better able to predict when she might need a kidney transplant, it became apparent that I would likely be out of the age range to donate my kidney to her. Becoming educated in what people with kidney disease go through, I knew that if I could not donate to my daughter, that I would donate to someone in need. 

When I heard about the kidney voucher program, I was elated. I could donate my kidney now while I am easily in the age range to donate to a stranger and my daughter could get a voucher for a kidney from a living donor when she has a need. Caitlin was receiving excellent care from Dr. Rastogi at UCLA and had been enrolled in one of his clinical trials. On December 19, 2018, I donated my kidney at UCLA. My family and I were so fortunate to get to meet my recipient and her family the morning after surgery. 

Kidney donation has enhanced my life in ways that are difficult to express. The experience at UCLA was excellent all the way through, from the education to the care given. 

A video from Colleen’s daughter, Caitlin: