When I first met Shanika Harris at our private college prep high school on Chicago’s westside, her honest and deliberate personality, coupled with a comedic nature was evident. It wasn’t until we graduated high school that I had the opportunity to connect with her in a more meaningful way. When she attended my wedding almost five years ago, her smile lit up the room. However, within the past two years she has faced surmountable health challenges, and is in need of a kidney transplant. After talking to others in the black community about wellness and health, I noticed a trend of illnesses that require dialysis and an inevitable kidney transplant. This led me to investigate the importance of educating others about the option of being a living kidney donor.

According to the Living Kidney Donor Network, there are currently over 93,000 people on the kidney transplant waiting list. The wait for a deceased donor could be five years, and in some states, it is closer to 10 years. Patients are prioritized by how long they've been on the waiting list, their blood type, immune system activity and other factors. However, there is an option to be a living kidney donor. Many are not aware of the details associated with this option.

In her mid 30s, Shanika never imagined being faced with health challenges. To cope with the stress of her appointments, and attending often without support, social media has been an outlet to chronicle her dialysis stories. As a community of friends and supporters, many have all rallied around her, sending hearts via Facebook, yet feeling helpless to assist. According to Ms. Harris, she is grateful for the opportunity to encourage others to become an organ donor.  

“If one person decides to become an organ donor, then I will be happy.”

Below are five things to know about being a living organ donor:

• To be a kidney donor, you must have no evidence of kidney disease. In addition, you cannot have any indication of chief medical conditions that would increase the risk for kidney disease in the future.
• One of the most common reasons for donation is due to emotional ties. Specifically, such as between spouses and other family members.
• People do donate to people that they do not know. Donors who are interested in donating in a non-directed fashion are more common. In these donations, they donate to people they do not personally know.
• One major misconception about the donation process is that there needs to be a perfect match. The outcomes are improved when the donor and recipient are perfectly matched, however, we know now that the survival on dialysis is greatly decreased compared to transplantation. It is important to have a transplant as soon as possible and with any degree of matching. It’s better to have a transplant than not.
• Doctors need to first make sure that the donor is healthy enough to undergo donation surgery without any major medical or surgical complications. Long term, there is also apprehension for the health of the person. There is follow-up care completed regularly by transplant staff who will review their lab work periodically as well as make recommendations to keep them in good in health.

To learn more about Shanika Harris and how you can give encouragement and support her, check her site here.