A letter from James

Dear World,

I write today with an update I never expected to share.

I've been diagnosed with stage 5 kidney disease (end-stage renal disease). Apparently, taking NSAIDs for 30+ years for rheumatoid arthritis destroys your kidneys! In short: my kidneys have retired early with little notice.

And my doctors have been very straightforward: I need a kidney transplant.

Here's the part that's both difficult and important to ask: the best path forward for me is to find a living kidney donor. A living kidney donor can turn the feeling of waiting on the national kidney transplant list from a "someday, maybe?" to a "today, possibly?"

Before anything else, I want to say this sincerely: there is absolutely no pressure. I know this is a deeply personal decision and that not everyone can, nor should, donate. I will respect whatever is right for you — no explanations needed.

If you're open to learning more, the first step is simply confidential testing to see if you might be a match via the link below. The Mass General Transplant team handles the process, answers questions privately, and makes sure donors are safe and supported. Think of it as a medical "compatibility check" — like a dating app, but with fewer selfies and some lab work.

If donating isn't something you can consider, you can still help by sharing this website with your community and following me on Facebook to follow my journey. I don't think anyone can truly quantify the positive butterfly effect that happens when you share this link in a group chat or on social media.

I'm so lucky to have such amazing people in my corner, and I'm incredibly grateful for the care you've already shown me by reading this far. Thank you for caring and being part of my life.

With heartfelt gratitude — and a sense of humor I'm trying to retain,

James