by Jeremy P. Morlock 

More Americans need a kidney transplant than any other organ. When kidneys fail, people must rely on dialysis treatments or receive a kidney transplant to survive. A transplant from a living donor offers the best chance for a longer, healthier life. 

Rachel Kijek-Miller of Hamburg is one of 8,000 New Yorkers waiting for a kidney transplant. She is working with the transplant team at Erie County Medical Center (ECMC). To help share her story, her family contacted the Kidney Foundation of Western New York. 

Rachel is an animal lover who enjoys cooking, entertaining, and spending time with family. Her journey with kidney disease began early. “I was diagnosed with kidney disease when I was 11 years old,” she says. “I went on dialysis when I was 17.” 

At age 18, Rachel received a kidney from a deceased donor. Most kidney transplants come from deceased donors who registered as organ donors or whose families gave permission. Rachel’s first transplant lasted eight years. 

Only 23% of kidney transplants come from living donors, in which a healthy person donates one kidney to save a life. “In 2001, my best friend donated her kidney to me,” Rachel says. “I was blessed with 23 years of a normal life.” 

Rachel battled colon cancer and has been in remission for five years. She is now facing kidney failure again. Her family hopes someone will contact ECMC to explore becoming a living donor. Rachel can receive a kidney from a donor with type A or type O blood, or participate in a paired exchange program. For information about living kidney donation, please call ECMC at 716-898-4931. You can also learn more at https://www.ecmc.edu/health-services/kidney-and-pancreas-renal-care.  

Jeremy P. Morlock is Director of the Kidney Foundation of Western New York.