I recently joined The Human Adventure podcast for an in-depth conversation about living kidney donation, transplant advocacy, and the record-setting journey behind Ascending America. What began decades ago—watching my father endure nine years of dialysis after kidney failure—ultimately led me to become a non-directed living kidney donor in 2017. That decision reshaped my life and strengthened my commitment to raising awareness about the urgent need for living kidney donors in the United States.
On the podcast episode, I share why living kidney donation is the gold standard treatment for kidney failure, why living donor kidneys last significantly longer than deceased donor kidneys, and how misconceptions continue to limit public understanding. More than 90,000 Americans are currently waiting for a kidney transplant, yet many people are unaware that healthy individuals can donate a kidney and return to full, active lives.
To demonstrate that reality, I joined four other living kidney donors in a record-breaking climb of the highest point in all 50 states in just 41 days. The expedition—featured in Ascending America: Five Living Kidney Donors, 50 Peaks, 50 States, One Record-Breaking Journey—was not simply about mountaineering. It was about proving that kidney donors are not limited. We can compete, endure, and pursue meaningful challenges while advocating for others whose lives depend on transplant access.
During the episode, we discuss the physical and logistical challenges of climbing peaks like Denali, Mount Whitney, and Mount Rainier, but more importantly, we explore the deeper purpose behind the climb: expanding awareness of living kidney donation, increasing transplant education, and helping more patients move from dialysis to transplant.
If you are interested in kidney donation, transplant policy, endurance adventure, or the intersection of service and sport, I invite you to listen to this episode of The Human Adventure. My hope is that conversations like this will continue to shift perceptions and encourage more people to learn what is possible—not only after donation, but because of it.
If this story resonates with you, I invite you to go deeper.
In Ascending America, I share the full journey—climbing the highest peak in all 50 states alongside four fellow living kidney donors, pushing through brutal conditions, and challenging the limits people assume come with donation. More than an adventure story, it’s a powerful look at the science, resilience, and life-changing impact of living kidney donation.
If you’ve ever wondered what’s truly possible after saving a life—or how one decision can create a ripple effect that impacts dozens more—this book is for you.
👉 Get your copy of Ascending America today and rethink what’s possible.
