Stories of Kidney Transplant Recipients

Kristal Higgens

Kristal Higgins, a Black woman from Memphis, endured a six-year wait for a kidney transplant. Her prolonged wait was partly due to the use of the race-based eGFR test, which overestimated kidney function in Black patients, delaying her eligibility for the transplant list. During this time, she traveled 40 miles roundtrip for dialysis three times a week. Her experience underscores how systemic biases in medical testing can disproportionately affect women of color.

Nada DeLong

Nada DeLong from North Dakota faced a three-year wait for a kidney transplant due to high levels of antibodies that made her incompatible with 99% of potential donors. Despite multiple near-matches and emotional setbacks, she finally received a compatible kidney from a deceased donor. Her story highlights the biological challenges women often face, especially those sensitized by factors like pregnancy.

Jennifer Longoria

Diagnosed with IgA nephropathy at 21, Jennifer Longoria spent more than 13 years on dialysis while waiting for a kidney transplant. She was on transplant lists in Miami and Houston for 12 and 9 years, respectively, before finally receiving a transplant at the Mayo Clinic. Her prolonged wait exemplifies the systemic delays that can occur in the transplant process.