Darlene Goch is a 66-year-old former registered nurse from Port Huron, Michigan, whose life has been deeply affected by kidney disease. She spent her entire career in the medical field, beginning as a Certified Nursing Assistant and eventually becoming a Registered Nurse. Known as a positive thinker, creative, kind, and someone who is always helping others, Darlene has spent much of her life caring for people.

WHY I NEED YOUR HELP

Darlene has spent years adjusting her life around kidney disease and dialysis. Three times every week, she travels to her dialysis center for treatment that lasts more than three hours. Dialysis days can be extremely exhausting, followed by the need to rest and recover.

A successful transplant could change that routine and give Darlene back many of the hours of her week that are currently devoted to traveling to dialysis, receiving treatment, and recovering afterward.

The road ahead will still require hard work. After transplant, Darlene will need frequent blood tests, careful monitoring of anti-rejection medications, a new diet, and ongoing precautions to protect her health. But she sees that journey as an opportunity to live again.

Darlene wants to travel, be active, and experience life beyond the limitations that dialysis has placed on her. After everything she has lost throughout this journey, the opportunity to regain some of her independence would be nothing short of miraculous.