Former SoCal Patch Editor Seeking Living Kidney Donor

My name is Kelly Hartog. I live in Culver City and a former Patch editor, where I covered the Westside, starting with Mar Vista and eventually covering Culver City, Santa Monica and Venice. I’m also the former managing editor of the Los Angeles Jewish Journal (laid off during the pandemic) and now I’m a full-time freelancer, working as an editor, book coach, ghost writer and writer for outlets from NBC to The Jerusalem Post.

However, I have one assignment right now that takes precedence over all my other gigs. You know how you sometimes (in pre-Covid days) would ask your neighbor for a cup of sugar, or a couple of lemons off their tree? Or how sometimes in your Buy Nothing Facebook group you don’t just go on there to give away something but to ask for something? Usually along the lines of a winter jacket for a toddler or a spare phone charger?

Well, I need the equivalent of a human charger. I need a kidney. A real, live, honest-to-goodness healthy kidney from someone’s body. Could that person be you? Or someone you know? Willing to give the gift of life. To donate a kidney. And save my life.

If you:

1. Consider yourself to be a healthy adult between the ages of 18 and 65 (that means no history of diabetes, cancer or heart conditions)

2. You live ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA or know someone who lives anywhere in the country, would you be willing to be tested as a potential donor for me?

The initial step is simply filling in a form on UCLA’s Kidney Transplant website. It’s that simple.

Let me back up. I have Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD). It is a genetic, inherited condition, that over time results in multiple cysts on your kidneys, eventually causing them to cease functioning. You can learn more about PKD here.

I am now at the stage where I require a transplant and have been placed on the UNOS (United Network Organ Sharing) list for a deceased donor kidney. However, the wait time in Southern California for a deceased donor kidney is approximately 10 years. That’s why a living donor is my best option at this stage. You can learn more about UNOS here.

My blood type is O, which means I would require a transplant from someone also with O blood. However, even if your blood type is not O (if you don’t know your blood type UCLA will check anyway), you can still volunteer to be part of what’s called the paired donor exchange, and I would still receive a kidney thanks to you. You can learn more about paired donor exchange here.

All testing (which is initially simply blood tests), is covered by my insurance, even if you don’t have insurance. So there is zero financial cost to you, the potential donor. In addition, should you be a match, your surgery is also covered by my insurance.

In addition, should you be a match, even if you live out of state, there are options: If you live in an area where there is a transplant center, you can have surgery there and the kidney can be flown out to me. Alternately, if you don't live near a transplant center, there are organizations that will fund you to come to Los Angeles for your evaluation and transplant.

If you are willing to be tested, THANK YOU. Simply fill in this form and someone will get back to you from the transplant center. On the form there will be a space asking after you designate me as the recipient. It will then ask you for my date of birth. As I’m not comfortable sharing that publicly for obvious reasons, you can simply ignore that question – it will not stop you completing the form.

This questionnaire and all testing is completely confidential. It is not shared with me or my transplant team. You are under no obligation to let me know that you are volunteering if you don't wish to.

You can also learn more and reach out to me on my Kidney Campaign Facebook page here.

The more people I can reach, the greater the chances of finding a match.

Thank you

Whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world. – Talmud Sanhedrin 37a