My name is Nicole Harris and I am a kidney donor. On May 15th, 2012, I was fortunate enough to be able to donate a kidney to my mom. My mom’s battle with ESRD was hard fought, full of adversity and with many bumps in the road. You see, she was against having one of her children donate to her out of her fear for us and wanting to protect us. As a mother myself, I could understand that fear, but I also did not want to live in a world without one of my parents to guide me, support me, and help me raise my young son. Even though we knew from the beginning I was a match, she held steady to her refusal, sometimes to the point of a fight. The last thing I wanted to do though was to fight with her when she was so ill… so usually I dropped the conversation about me donating after a few minutes. If only I knew then what I know now. After watching her health decline, I contacted the living donor coordinator and went through the process of testing on my own and was approved to donate. When I broke the news to my parents that we had a surgery date and I was the donor, it was a very emotional day but one I will never forget.
The love and support shown to us during my mom’s illness, our surgeries, and the post- transplant period was remarkable. Being a donor has subsequently shaped my life and my choices. I now work as a transplant coordinator myself. Many times, I have heard from my patients the same concern my mom had about having an adult child as a donor. I do my best to flip that perspective for them. I also make sure to pass along the knowledge I wish I would have known all those years ago regarding ESRD- specifically relating to the benefits of having a living donor. My mother passed away peacefully on December 25, 2014- just 2 years and 7 months post-transplant. While this felt and still feels premature and heartbreaking, I know her life was forever changed because of transplant and most importantly her spirit was renewed.
Since donating my life has changed as well. I had a front row seat to seeing my mom get hope back in her life and there is no price that could describe how special that was. I have also completed a full marathon, several half marathons and many 5/10Ks post donation. Additionally, I will be going with a group of kidney donors to Africa in March of 2026 to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro as another avenue to promote living donation and to show what donors are capable of accomplishing.
Nicole Harris is from Cincinnati, Ohio.
