Here’s a little backstory of our journey, in 2011 my mother was diagnosed with Non-Cirrhotic portal hypertension. 

They performed a spinal renal shunt which eventually went bad in 2017 and then she turned cirrhotic and was told at that time there was nothing they could do for her.

After years of fighting to qualify for a donor, she was told they could add her to the list in 2023. 

I instantly said that I would do it (it’s my mom, there was no second guessing). I was told that having a live donor is better for the recipient.

At first she wasn’t comfortable with the idea because she didn’t want something to go wrong, I have children of my own.

I had to remind her god was on my side and he wouldn’t let anything go wrong. Plus, I’m an adult and I could just do it without her knowing; we’re both very stubborn individuals.

I started the process and passed each test but as with some things we had a hiccup, I had to lose weight to fully qualify.

I started weight loss medication and even went as far as seeing a bariatric doctor, the process of trying to lose weight was not fast but I knew if I wanted to help my mom I had no other option.

As I was trying to lose weight the hospital kept going back and forth with their decision if she qualified or not given her extensive medical background, the weight finally started coming off and we wanted to get a second opinion on if she qualified or not, that’s when we  switched to a different hospital and donation team.

The people/ team at Henry Ford Detroit made us feel heard, valued and reassured us that yes, she qualified!!!

I went through the whole evaluation process with them and they finally gave me a projected date for surgery.

I asked them to keep it a secret so I could give her the date at my upcoming wedding as my gift to her, because mom’s don’t really have something special like dad’s do.

Our date of surgery was October 22nd, so many emotions overcome you, I couldn’t even explain them all if someone asked.

Fast forward to November 23, one month post op, her body never tried reject my donation, which in itself is a miracle.

We both had some complications, I developed a large clot by my donated ( right lobe) and was bleeding significantly so I had to go back under the following day to clean out the clot and stop the bleeding. I ended up with two blood transfusions and infiltrated.

My mothers kidneys wouldn’t start back up and she had to start dialysis, her port ended up infected and she went sepsis and had staph infection.

I share this part not to scare anyone but to be completely transparent that things do happen.

We are both home and doing well!!! still healing of course but better than what we were doing.

Living organ donation is definitely a journey for both the recipient and the donor; if I had to do it all over again there would be no questions asked, just actions.

It’s one of the greatest gifts I could ever give.

Thank you for letting me share our story.

MHF has Camp O Covered

Meredith Haga Foundation donated 100 quilts to DCI Camp Okawehna campers this past June! The foundation donated quilts to campers to stay warm and comfortable during their dialysis treatments.

One of Meredith’s goals was to provided blankets to dialysis patients to keep warm during treatment.

Today, we fulfill hergoal by providing blankets to dialysis centers

6th year KidneyVersary Celebration at The Grill

Since 2019, the Meredith Haga Foundation has held a fundraiser in Richmond, VA to remember and celebrate the living kidney donation of Bruce to Meredith.

We would like to thank all who attended and a big THANK YOU to our sponsors and partners.

The Grill, ARCO, Gary Martin Real Estate, Trent Corp, DLA Promotions, Ellen Davis Creative, Children’s Museum of Richmond, Richmond Flying Squirrels, Liverpool Los Angeles, The Shops at 5807, Fall Line BBQ, Starlight Distillery, and Stone Ridge Farms.

Introducing our 2025-2026 Board of Directors

The Meredith Haga Foundation was honored to support Roger and his wife, Altrina, during their living donor journey — a journey that reflects the very heart of what the Foundation stands for: compassion, courage, and community.

When Roger learned that his younger brother’s kidney function was declining, he didn’t hesitate to step forward. “He’s my baby brother,” Roger shared. “After losing our parents, I knew this was something Mom and Dad would have wanted me to do.”

The process of testing and preparation was long and emotional. There were moments of fear, uncertainty, and exhaustion — yet Roger remained steadfast. He remembers seeing another patient in the transplant clinic waiting to find a match and realizing just how fortunate his brother was to have that opportunity. “That moment reminded me exactly why I needed to do this,” he said.

After months of appointments and testing, Roger received the news that he was a match. The call brought tears of joy to their family — a mix of relief, gratitude, and hope.

The transplant surgery went forward, and while recovery brought its own challenges, the outcome was exactly what Roger had prayed for: his brother began to heal and thrive. “I have no regrets,” Roger said. “If I had to do it all over again, I would.”

During his recovery, Roger and Altrina connected with the Meredith Haga Foundation for post-donation support. The Foundation helped ease the strain of the transition period and provided resources to help him focus on his health and healing.

Roger’s story is one of selflessness and love — a reminder that behind every transplant, there are families, sacrifices, and moments of grace. The Meredith Haga Foundation is proud to walk alongside living donors like Roger, ensuring that their generosity is matched with the support they deserve.

Two weeks ago today, I donated a kidney. This morning I woke up in my own bed, 2,666 miles away. The morning sun  streamed in my window. I took a moment to assess my recovery:

I slept well.

I rolled out of bed with very little discomfort.

I went downstairs and got my own coffee.

An annoying stitch in my side is gone.

I’m sore but I don’t hurt if that makes sense.

What led to today? A beautiful love story!

About 17 years ago, while our family was stationed in Okinawa, I was out with my kids one evening. A young man (Marvin) approached and asked if I “was Rafia’s mom”. I said yes, and we spoke for a while. That brief encounter led to two families becoming one. I met Marvin’s parents (Conrad and Brigitta) not long after, and we became lifelong friends! They’ve visited my husband (Danny) and I in Oregon; we’ve visited them in Georgia. We’ve vacationed together with and without Marvin and Rafia. My other kids, Kate and Bo, either joined us or visited them independently. I once even visited Brigitta’s sister in The Netherlands while my own sister was visiting Brigitta in Georgia!

About four years ago, Conrad was placed on dialysis. Within a year, he was approved for a kidney transplant! When we learned that they were looking for a living donor, I raised my hand to be tested. It was a simple, immediate thing I could do for our family. Amazingly, we were a match!!!

I remember being so happy, so amazed, and so grateful. In what universe do the stars line up so perfectly?

While waiting for the transplant, we welcomed our grandchild into the world.  Two weeks ago, our family came together right after the surgery, our grandchild hamming it up and reminding us why we were there.

When I think of the love that has been poured into Conrad to ensure he was healthy enough for the transplant, I am humbled. When I think of the medical advances that made it possible, I am grateful. When I think of our little grandchild growing up with ALL of his grandparents able to play with him I am overjoyed!

Life as it should be. Loving, living, sharing.

It was so easy.

Read more about Conrad

“Please know that your gift of helping pay for this [rental car] made a world of difference to our family while we were there.”

I am of the mindset that, “if we can, we should”. What I mean by this is, there is a lot of bad in the world that we can do nothing about. So, on the off chance that we are able to help make the world better, we should do what we are able to.

This belief weighed heavily on me when my good friend Pam and her husband Mike were hit with the diagnosis of his kidney failure. For two years, Pam and Mike remained positive about figuring out life on kidney dialysis, finding a kidney donor, and improving Mike’s health. However, every door they came to seemed to remain closed and every challenge, monumental.

This broke my heart for them, and I began to imagine myself in their shoes. What would I do without my husband? What would my children’s lives be like if they lost their dad? I asked Pam and Mike if I could look into becoming a living donor for Mike and, while they were hesitant to ask me to put myself through surgery, they eventually agreed.

The process was smooth and relatively easy and sure enough, I was a “perfect match” for Mike. We were headed towards kidney transplant surgery, and I could see the relief and hope on Mike and Pam’s faces as the transplant date grew closer and closer.

However, as that date drew near, I began to experience some stress and anxiety. I was excited to help Mike, but I was also worried about my ability to take care of my family while not receiving a paycheck. I am a self-employed Health and Fitness coach and do not receive paid leave or paid sick time off of any kind. While I knew that I was moving forward with the transplant surgery at all costs, I did not know how I would be able to pay all of my bills without earning a paycheck. Thankfully, my Social Worker assigned to me through the hospital was right there to help.

She immediately recommended me to the Meredith Haga Foundation to obtain financial support. When I woke up from transplant surgery on August 8^th, 2025, my Social Worker was there to give me the amazing news that the Meredith Haga Foundation approved my request and would be covering some of my household bills.

Since that time, I have been able to recover without stress. My recipient, Mike, has been doing really well and thriving with his new kidney and I am able to rest and enjoy some much needed time with my family while I make a healthy, stress-free recovery.

I’m reaching out to share my story as a living kidney donor for my daughter, Sofia. This experience has been nothing short of life-changing—for both of us.

Sofia was diagnosed with FSGS (Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis) in 2020, during the height of the pandemic. What followed was a cascade of challenges that no child should have to face. Most of the past three years, she’s lived with catheters in her body—undergoing LDL apheresis, plasma exchange, and peritoneal dialysis. Her energy drained, her teenage years upended. She was forced into homeschooling, pulled from nearly all social circles and extracurriculars, and restricted to one of the strictest diets imaginable.

And yet… she never lost her fire.

Despite everything, Sofia remained ambitious and deeply compassionate. She dreams of attending culinary school and entering the food business someday. She’s also an incredibly loving and protective big sister to her 10-year-old sister, Kalia. Her strength, resilience, and love for life are what carried us through the darkest days.

When I learned I was a match, there was no hesitation. This transplant was my chance to not just save her life, but to help her reclaim it. We both underwent surgery at UC San Diego and I was fortunate to be released from the hospital after only two days—on my feet, and filled with gratitude.

Attached are photos from this journey, including a moment at her bedside, and the beautiful bouquet sent by my team to celebrate this milestone. We’ve leaned on many amazing support systems—Painted Turtle, the Nephrotic Syndrome Foundation, nephrology camps—and now, I’m grateful to share our story with your foundation as well. If our experience can offer hope, perspective, or inspiration to others considering donation, I would be honored for you to share it.

Thank you for all that you do to support living donors and their families during these vulnerable and transformative times.

My name is Steven Jamison, and I am a living kidney donor. I donated my kidney on May 3, 2023, for my good friend, Billy Jarvis.

Before I get into the details of why I chose to donate and what the experience involved, I’d like to share some background.

For nearly 10 years, I worked at Tennessee Donor Services (TDS), an Organ Procurement Organization based in Nashville, TN. For most of that time, I worked alongside Billy in the Public Education Department, where our job was to raise awareness about the importance of organ, eye, and tissue donation and to inspire others to register as donors.

Like many others, I was a registered donor myself, but at first, I had no personal connection to donation. That changed quickly. Through my work at TDS, I had the honor of meeting countless transplant recipients, living donors, and donor families who had supported their loved ones’ decision to give the gift of life. Their stories were unforgettable and gave me a deep understanding of the incredible impact donation has on individuals, families, and communities.

While I chose to donate to help my friend, my experience working in the donation community gave me a deeper appreciation for the life-changing impact that decision could have.

I met Billy shortly after I joined TDS. He was a senior member of the team and had already received his first kidney transplant more than 30 years prior. As a new employee who knew virtually nothing about donation—or the business world in general—Billy took me under his wing. We hit it off immediately and became close friends. That won’t surprise anyone who knows Billy—he’s a social butterfly and a friend to everyone he meets.

A few years later, Billy’s transplanted kidney began to fail. One day, we were having lunch in the breakroom, and he mentioned his kidney function was declining and that another transplant might be necessary. In that moment, I told him, “I got you.” That was two years before the donation took place.

At the time, I’m not sure he believed I meant it—and I didn’t know whether I’d even qualify as a donor. But I knew that if it was possible, I would be the one to step up and help my friend when the time came.

That time eventually came as Billy went into kidney failure and began dialysis treatment. I told him again that I would give him my kidney and that I was ready to start testing right away. To start the process, I connected with a living donor coordinator at UT Medical Center’s Transplant Center, who explained the process. I already knew testing to determine if I was a candidate to donate a kidney would be thorough. For Initial testing I took a series of blood tests to confirm my blood type and tissue compatibility (HLA matching) as well as urine analysis to ensure I had healthy kidney function and more. Unfortunately, the results showed I wasn’t a viable match. Due to a high level of antibodies in Billy’s system—developed over time after his first transplant—he would likely have rejected my kidney. I was devastated that I could no longer help my friend, but I quickly learned that we may have a backup option.

Billy was listed at Ascension Saint Thomas West’s Kidney Transplant Program in Nashville, TN. Ascension’s program offers a paired donor exchange program through the National Kidney Registry for patients with willing but incompatible donors.  In this arrangement, the incompatible donor is matched with a compatible recipient, while their intended recipient receives a kidney from another donor in a similar situation. This process can involve multiple donor-recipient pairs, creating a chain of transplants that increases the overall number of successful kidney transplants. By participating in such exchanges, patients have a higher likelihood of finding a well-matched donor, which can lead to better transplant outcomes and reduced waiting times.

Though I couldn’t donate to Billy directly, I knew that donating through this program would ensure he would receive the kidney he desperately needed. It also meant I could help someone else in need. To me, it was a no-brainer.

I restarted the evaluation process at Ascension, beginning again with blood and urine analysis. I also went through medical and psychological evaluations to confirm I was healthy and understood the risks and implications of living donation. Testing included physical exams, imaging (like CT scans), and screenings for infectious diseases. After several months, I received the call: I was approved as a donor—and they had a match for my kidney.

The night before surgery, I was admitted for final evaluations and met the transplant nurses and hospital staff. I barely slept—part nerves, part excitement, and part emotion. But I was confident. I knew I had made the right decision, and I felt grateful for the love and support of my family and friends.

Today, I’m fully healed and healthier than ever. Billy has since received his kidney transplant, and he’s not just doing well—he’s thriving. I started this journey to help my friend, but it became something even greater when I heard from the other person involved in my story.

Just shy of my one-year donation anniversary, I received an email from a name I didn’t recognize. The subject line simply read: “Donor Recipient.”

My recipient was a 26-year-old woman from Arizona who had battled lupus, kidney failure, and numerous other health issues. In her message, she told me that since receiving my kidney, she had gotten married, was able to travel again, and felt truly healthy for the first time in years. She said she finally had her life back.

I already believed that donating my kidney was one of the most rewarding decisions I’d ever made—but hearing her story confirmed it beyond a doubt.

If I could do it again, I would. Without hesitation. And if you’re healthy and even thinking about donating a kidney, I encourage you to go through the screening process and learn more. You just might change someone’s life. Maybe even two!