Meet Ben.  
Ben is a really nice guy.
Ben needs a new kidney.
Ben wearing glasses and smiling

Hi I'm Ben,
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When I was in kindergarten my kidneys started to fail due to a genetically inherited disorder called nephronophthisis. While rare, it is the most common genetic cause of childhood kidney failure. I was so lucky that my amazing Dad was able to donate one of his kidneys to me when I was nine. Unfortunately, a kidney transplant doesn't last forever. So now, almost 20 years later,  I depend on a peritoneal dialysis machine every night to do the work that my kidney can no longer do.
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Currently, I’m 28 years old and in my final year of graduate school at the Ohio State University studying for my PhD in Molecular Biology. I have lots of interests and hobbies including playing trumpet in a jazz band, listening to old Beatles records, taking road trips with friends and spending summer vacations with my family on Cape Cod.
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Lately, though I haven’t been able to do much besides my schoolwork because without a healthy kidney, I am very weak and fatigued.
On the bright side, I am grateful to have a loving family, good healthcare, and to be almost done with my degree. I am on the waitlist to receive a kidney from a deceased donor, but it can be a very long wait. A living kidney transplant is recommended by my doctors as the best option because it would provide better kidney function, last longer and offer the best overall long term outcome for me.

So, I am reaching out to family and friends to spread the word in the hopes of finding a kidney donor. My family and I put this page together to provide answers to some of the common questions people might have, but I know it’s a big decision for anyone, so if you have any other questions please reach out to us at kidneydonor4ben@gmail.com. We would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have about the process. 
‍
If you would like to take the first step in being evaluated as a potential kidney donor, click the Be a kidney donor for Ben Oakes button below.

Please consider sharing the link to this web page (https://www.kidneydonor4ben.com/) with your
family and friends.

Thank you for taking the time to read this!

Ben

Hi I'm Ben,
‍
When I was in kindergarten my kidneys started to fail due to a genetically inherited disorder called nephronophthisis. While rare, it is the most common genetic cause of childhood kidney failure.

I was so lucky that my amazing Dad was able to donate one of his kidneys to me when I was nine. Unfortunately, a kidney transplant doesn't last forever. So now, almost 20 years later,  I depend on a peritoneal dialysis machine every night to do the work that my kidney can no longer do.

Currently, I’m 28 years old and in my final year of graduate school at the Ohio State University studying for my PhD in Molecular Biology. I have lots of interests and hobbies including playing trumpet in a jazz band, listening to old Beatles records, taking road trips with friends and spending summer vacations with my family on Cape Cod.

Lately, though I haven’t been able to do much besides my schoolwork because without a healthy kidney, I am very weak and fatigued.

On the bright side, I am grateful to have a loving family, good healthcare, and to be almost done with my degree. I am on the waitlist to receive a kidney from a deceased donor, but it can be a very long wait. A living kidney transplant is recommended by my doctors as the best option because it would provide better kidney function, last longer and offer the best overall long term outcome for me.

So, I am reaching out to family and friends to spread the word in the hopes of finding a kidney donor. My family and I put this page together to provide answer to some of the common questions people might have, but I know it’s a big decision for anyone, so if you have any other questions please reach out to us at kidneydonor4ben@gmail.com. We would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have about the process. 
‍
If you would like to take the first step in being evaluated as a potential kidney donor, click the Be a kidney donor for Ben Oakes button below.

Please consider sharing the link to this web page (https://www.kidneydonor4ben.com/) with your
family and friends.

Thank you for taking the time to read this!

Ben

Hi I'm Ben,
‍
When I was in kindergarten my kidneys started to fail due to a genetically inherited disorder called nephronophthisis. While rare, it is the most common genetic cause of childhood kidney failure.

I was so lucky that my amazing Dad was able to donate one of his kidneys to me when I was nine. Unfortunately, a kidney transplant doesn't last forever. So now, almost 20 years later,  I depend on a peritoneal dialysis machine every night to do the work that my kidney can no longer do.

Currently, I’m 28 years old and in my final year of graduate school at the Ohio State University studying for my PhD in Molecular Biology. I have lots of interests and hobbies including playing trumpet in a jazz band, listening to old Beatles records, taking road trips with friends and spending summer vacations with my family on Cape Cod.

Lately, though I haven’t been able to do much besides my schoolwork because without a healthy kidney, I am very weak and fatigued.

On the bright side, I am grateful to have a loving family, good healthcare, and to be almost done with my degree. I am on the waitlist to receive a kidney from a deceased donor, but it can be a very long wait. A living kidney transplant is recommended by my doctors as the best option because it would provide better kidney function, last longer and offer the best overall long term outcome for me.

So, I am reaching out to family and friends to spread the word in the hopes of finding a kidney donor. My family and I put this page together to provide answer to some of the common questions people might have, but I know it’s a big decision for anyone, so if you have any other questions please reach out to us at kidneydonor4ben@gmail.com. We would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have about the process. 
‍
If you would like to take the first step in being evaluated as a potential kidney donor, click the Be a kidney donor for Ben Oakes button below.

Please consider sharing the link to this web page (https://www.kidneydonor4ben.com/) with your
family and friends.

Thank you for taking the time to read this!

Ben

Be a kidney donor for Ben Oakes

For more information see Massachusetts General Kidney Transplant Center or ask us at kidneydonor4ben@gmail.com

Beakers and other devices from Ben's research labBen, age 9 and dad showing off transplant surgery scarsBen and his peritoneal dialysis machineBen and his favorite canine friendBen's desk in the research lab

See what kidney donors say about their organ donation experience

Frequently asked questions about being a kidney donor

Is there an age limit for donors?

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Min age is 18; Donors over the age of 60, 65, and even 70 are considered on a case-by-case basis. However, kidneys from younger donors seem to work better over the long term.

How would donating a kidney affect my health?

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Surgery to donate a kidney has the same risks and side effects that are common for any major surgery; the remaining kidney compensates by increasing its efficiency and productivity; Getting blood pressure checks along with annual blood and urine analysis is recommended.

Can I still donate to Ben if we don’t have the same blood type?

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Yes! If you aren’t a medical match for Ben then; Kidney Paired Donation can be another option. In a paired donation, an incompatible donor/recipient pair is matched with another incompatible donor/recipient pair for an exchange. Each donor gives a kidney to the other person’s intended recipient. In the KPD model, a sophisticated computer algorithm is used to find better matches; the objective is to “mix and match” incompatible donors and recipients with other incompatible recipients and donors, to find more compatible matches for all.

Will I still be able to eat the same food and have the same lifestyle with one kidney?

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Yes! You don’t need to follow a special diet, even right after surgery. However, maintaining a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise is just as important for living kidney donors as it is for everyone else. Nutrient-rich foods will keep your weight in check and lower your risk of high blood pressure and diabetes and in turn, keep your kidney healthy.
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Some kidney doctors think kidney donors should limit excess protein especially from protein powder or supplements. Stay hydrated and drink water to keep your kidney working the way it should be. 

If you are into contact sports like hockey, football, or martial arts, a doctor may recommend you wear a padded protective vest.

Will I still be able to take the same medications?

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New prescription medications should be discussed with your primary care doctor; remind them that you have only one kidney since the donationNSAIDS “Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs” should not be used for more than 2 to 3 days. These include: aspirin, ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil, Aleve, and naproxen. You may take aspirin on a regular basis if your doctor has prescribed it.

How long is the recovery time for a donor?

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Donors with desk jobs that don’t require heavy lifting can typically return to work with 2-4 weeks of surgery. Donors with more active jobs may need 6-8 weeks to fully recover.

Who pays for the donation surgery?

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Ben's insurance pays for the donor’s testing, evaluation, surgery and follow up care.
Time off from work is not covered by insurance; but donors may be eligible for sick leave, state disability and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
The National Living Donor Assistance Center (NLDAC) can pay for up to $6000 of certain expenses for living organ donors.
Ben's family is willing to financially assist for reasonable costs for potential donors expenses, (like airfare, housing for post transplant, and recovery.)