The majority of Pivot Project articles so far have been success stories of problems solved or sharing amazing individuals/organizations that have created a model that is working to help those currently in need. This story is different, but it is extremely important.
Spring 2021 Update:
Jordan Reed has received a kidney! He had a successful surgery at Cedars Sinai in late January 2021. His family would like to thank everyone that had a part in helping spread the word about Jordan's medical need and helping him get closer to this important moment. He and the donor are happy and healing well in quarantine.
Fall 2020 Update:
Jordan was placed on dialysis 12 hours a week: 3 days a week, 4 hours each day. He hopes to find a kidney donor soon, as dialysis can be extremely taxing both physically and emotionally. He's currently dreaming of a new kidney from a courageous and caring individual, although he is unable to get much sleep because of his current health state.
Jordan’s sister, Jess, has been fighting hard to spread the word about his kidney transplant need and was the person that contacted Pivot Project to share his story. Hear her painful request in the video below.
A Sister's Plea
He treats and has always treated his body so well. I can't change what is happening but maybe if enough people hear his story, we can save him. We only need one person. Jess Silver
Jordan Reed is a 28-year-old who found out last year he was in active kidney failure because of a medical oversight that easily could’ve been avoided. He and his family were in shock as they immediately needed to begin the search for a new kidney for Jordan. The current waiting list for deceased donors is close to 11 years. Jordan, unfortunately, does not have that time available to him.
He is in urgent need of a living kidney donor.
Jordan’s Diagnosis
Jordan was recently diagnosed with End-Stage Renal Disease with 90% active kidney failure. He’s only 28 years old. He is in need of an immediate transplant from a living donor, as his kidney function is rapidly declining. He is currently at 9% function, down from 17% just a year ago when he was first diagnosed.
At age 20, Jordan was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder called Crohn’s Disease. He was living a normal and happy life on daily medication for this very livable disease. However, during this time his kidneys became diseased which later resulted in irreparable damage to both of Jordan’s kidneys and he found himself in an emergency situation.
During March 2019, Jordan was on his way to work and he started seeing stars and flashing lights. He immediately went to the hospital and they found that his blood pressure was through the roof. The prolonged and constant strain from his kidneys trying to regulate their levels resulted in both kidneys completely covered in scar tissue. He has since received the proper medications to manage his blood pressure and Crohn’s and doctors share that if he receives a new kidney there will be absolutely no effects from his current medications for his Crohn’s. He will receive lifetime medical monitoring from the top kidney experts in the country.
The transplant center has given the green light to call forward anyone who is willing to donate. Jordan is blood type A, however, you do not have to have the same blood type.
About Jordan & His Family
Jordan is a kindhearted son, brother, grandson, nephew, and friend. He usually keeps his personal struggles private because he does not want to be a burden on others, but now he needs the help of the public because he hopes to see a future where he meets the love of his life, starts a family, and gets to grow old with them.
His mother, father, and sister are extremely supportive and worried about Jordan. Once he was diagnosed, his family and friends immediately tested to see if they could donate. Unfortunately, all younger potential donors have been disqualified from donating for different health reasons. His mother discovered that she had breast cancer during the testing process, which the family is grateful for because they caught it early enough for her to receive successful treatment and they would not have known otherwise.
“It is difficult for me to ask you to consider being a living donor, I know this is a hugely personal decision; however I would be truly humbled and grateful for such a selfless act. We live in a stressful and divisive society, so I don’t make these requests lightheartedly. I simply want to extend my time on earth to continue to explore avenues in my career in commercial real estate, enjoy time with friends and family, and someday meet the love of my life and have a family.”
- Jordan
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What is Living Kidney Donation?
Living kidney donation is something that not a lot of people know about. Here’s some basic information about kidney donation, taken from the National Kidney Foundation:
- You only need one kidney to live a healthy, long life
- Most donor surgery is done laparoscopically, meaning through tiny incisions
- The recuperation period is usually fairly quick, generally two weeks
- The cost of your evaluation, travels, and surgery will be covered by insurance. The hospital can give you extensive information on this.
- You will have a separate team of healthcare professionals to evaluate you as a living donor. Their job is to help you understand the risks and benefits and look out for YOUR best interests.
You can also learn more about living donation on the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) website: www.kidney.org/livingdonation
Who Pays for the Medical Expenses?
As mentioned above, the cost of all the medical expenses will be covered by Jordan’s insurance. This includes the surgery/recovery but also all of the medical testing, travels, and accommodations needed prior to a donation approval. The donor will have no out of pocket expenses.
The donor will have no out of pocket expenses.
While the surgery will take place at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles, someone from out of state is capable of donating. Jordan and his family, although they cannot provide the donor with gifts, money, or anything else, are able to cover the cost of travel and accommodations for the donor so that they can have a safe and comfortable stay in Los Angeles during the recovery period (2 weeks).
Jordan’s team is currently looking for a donor that is in his age range (18-45) with no history of high blood pressure, obesity, or diabetes. The donor cannot have any transferable diseases. The hospital has expressed that the donor does not need to have the same blood type as Jordan.
For more information, please call Jordan’s case leader at 805-338-4859
Is Kidney Donation Scary?
A personal experience from me, the writer, a living kidney donor.
Yes, the simple answer is that being a living kidney donor can be scary. However, it is not as difficult as one would think and is an extremely rewarding experience. My name is Jessica Kantor and I’m the Editor at Pivot Project; I’m also a living kidney donor. Everyone at Pivot Project is donating their time and resources to this initiative and when I saw this story come in, I immediately wanted to cover the story myself.
That's me, in the picture below 👇🏼
I donated my left kidney in March of 2019 to a coworker, Earl, that had been looking for a living donor for over a year. He had Polycystic Kidney Disease and this genetic disease came for him, his mother, aunts, sisters, and will potentially come for his children. Although I did not know him very well, I knew that he was a good person and that if the doctors at Cedar Sinai deemed me healthy and a match, it was meant to be.
The surgery itself was scary and intense, and I’m beyond grateful that I had my family to help support me during that time. The recovery was much easier than I thought it would be, and not once have I ever regretted my decision. Many ask me why I didn’t donate to a friend or family member; the immediate answer is that no one I knew needed a kidney at the time, but I would have gladly given them one. I knew that I could save a life right here and now, and to wait and save my kidney for someone I knew better would be a decision I may regret because they may never need one. I also am fully aware that by giving my kidney to Earl and removing him from the extremely long waitlist, that I was moving every child, woman, and man behind him in the line up a spot and closer to their own miracle.
I don’t write this to try to convince someone to do something they would never want to do. I am writing this in case you have an interest, or you’re on the fence, to let you know that the doctors at Cedar Sinai know what they’re doing and that you can have an extremely rewarding experience should you choose to move forward.
Ways You Can Help
You want to consider donating! Amazing!
Start here: call Jordan's case leader at 805-338-4859 or reach out to anyone at Pivot Project
You want to help but can't donate?
If you’re not meant to be the living kidney donor, that’s fine! There are still plenty of ways to help.
- Please share this story out on your social media channels, and to friends and family. Anyone in our extended circles could be the right fit to save Jordan’s life. Use #kidneyforjordanreed to promote.
- You can donate to the Crohn's and Colitis Research Foundation to help advanced studies and prevent this from happening to someone else
- You can donate to the National Transplant Foundation to help donors and their families receive support.
Share Jordan's Story
The more people who are given the opportunity to know Jordan, his story, and his family, the better shot he has at finding his donor and a chance to live well.
“Prayers and positive support for me and my family are always welcome and much appreciated.” -Jordan
For more information about kidney donation or Jordan’s case, please call his case leader at 805-338-4859
#kidneyforjordanreed
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