I recently had the opportunity to join Episode 1151 of The Outdoor Adventure Podcast that explores the heart of adventure—why we push our limits, seek challenges, and pursue purpose in the wild. In this conversation, I shared the story behind one of the most meaningful decisions of my life: becoming a living kidney donor.
In 2017, I donated a kidney to a stranger. That decision was shaped by watching my father endure nine difficult years on dialysis after kidney failure was diagnosed while I was in college. I saw firsthand how kidney disease slowly impacts every part of a person’s life. That experience ultimately led me to medical school and a career in emergency medicine, where I continued to witness the toll of kidney failure on patients and families.
Living kidney donation was both deeply personal and profoundly affirming for me. I wanted to do more than help one individual—I wanted to help change the narrative.
To demonstrate that kidney donors can live full, active, adventurous lives, I joined a team of fellow living donors in a record-setting journey to reach the highest point in all 50 U.S. states. This effort, chronicled in Ascending America, was not just about athletic achievement. It was about raising awareness and proving that living kidney donation is not an end—it’s a beginning.
For recipients, it can mean a second chance at life. For donors, it can mean an even deeper sense of purpose.
If you’d like to hear more about my journey, our 50-state highpoint challenge, and why I believe so strongly in living kidney donation, I invite you to listen to Episode 1151.
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.
I’ll go ahead and get these added to your site.
