In June 2025, my sister Lauren was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic colorectal cancer. Initially, she was told it was a terminal diagnosis, and we were uncertain how long she might have. When I heard that news, I told her I believe in miracles, and if anyone could beat these odds, it would be Lauren. A couple of weeks later, she connected with Mass General Hospital in Boston. They told her that not only did they feel her case was not terminal, but they also saw a pathway to a cure. The road would be arduous, but she could overcome it and survive.

Upon learning that the liver is able to regenerate and that living donation offers a greater chance of the recipient’s survival, I sought to determine if I could be her donor. There are certain moments in life where one’s path becomes very clear. I knew without question or doubt that what I wanted more than anything was to be my sister’s donor. I would do anything in my power to help save her life and give her the gift of time.

Working with my team at MGH was fantastic. They were incredible every step of the way. They helped coordinate the testing around my travel across the country to make everything as easy as possible for me. Although I knew in my heart that everything was going to work out, it was such a relief to get the final evaluation in May of 2026, learn that I was accepted as Lauren’s donor, and have our surgery scheduled for July 27, 2026.

My sister is one of my (s)he-ros. Witnessing her rise to this herculean task of chemo, radiation, and so many surgeries, and doing so with humor, has been amazing. I have been incredibly touched by the outpouring of community support, and by how we rise as a family to uplift one another and ease the burden of the trials before us. It reminds one that love and compassion unite us all.

Our surgeries went well, and we are recovering. I apparently grow large organs…  As such, I was able to donate even more of my liver than the surgeons had initially planned, giving her a whopping kilogram of liver! I am overjoyed that I could do so. Lauren’s healing journey is harder than mine. This is understandable and really challenging. I, perhaps quite naively, hoped she would be feeling better once the cancer was removed from her body. I am hoping that, given we are siblings and only a couple of years apart, her body will, in time, fully receive and recognize my liver as her own.

I remain positive and grateful to everyone from everywhere who has come together to support my sister and me on this journey. Our prayers continue that she heals fully and that we may grow old together, as Liver Sisters, as well as biological ones. Here’s to hopefully many, many more years together.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the support you have given my family and me as we navigated the early weeks of my experience as a living donor for my sister. Your work is noble and deeply appreciated. Thank you for helping ease some of the financial strain of giving another the gift of life and time.

It was one of the easiest decisions I have ever made. I knew this was part of my life path, and I am honored to have been my sister’s donor.

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.