Dean Duncan
Kidney Recipient
“In 1984, at age 16, I was diagnosed with Membranous Nephropathy. For decades I managed my kidney disease with treatments and medication, but in 2019, my nephrologist told me that my kidneys were failing and that I would soon need dialysis. That news was difficult to hear, but I was determined to keep moving forward,” shared Dean.
“Over the next 6 years, I underwent multiple forms of dialysis – from Peritoneal Dialysis to in-center hemodialysis and eventually home hemodialysis. I never missed a treatment because I knew my life depended on it. Even so, dialysis takes a tremendous toll on your body over time.
In 2022, I was placed on the transplant waiting lists at both Prisma Health and Atrium Health. What followed was a journey of hope, patience and perseverance. Between 2022 and 2026, I received eleven transplant calls. Ten of them did not work out for various reasons. One of the most difficult moments came in November 2025, when I received what seemed like a promising offer. After being admitted for transplant, my screening revealed I had COVID-19, making me ineligible for surgery. My wife and I were heartbroken, but we trusted that the right opportunity would come at the right time.
Through it all, we leaned on our faith and the support of our family, friends and church community, who continually prayed for us. Then, on January 3rd, 2026, we received our eleventh call. This time felt different. After completing the screening process, my surgeon shared words I will never forget: ‘This is the perfect kidney for you.’
The transplant surgery was a sucess, and afterward my surgeon explained that the donor kidney matched my physiology so well that it seemed as though it had been made specifically for me.
Now, just months after my transplant, my life has been transformed. My kidney function has improved dramatically; I have more energy than I have had in years and I have lost nearly thirty pounds. Most importantly, I have been able to return to living life instead of simply surviving it.
I am profoundly grateful to my donor and their family for making the selfless decision to give others a second chance at life. Their gift changed not only my life, but also the lives of my wife and family. I will never take that gift for granted. Every day serves as a reminder of the incredible impact of organ donation and the hope it brings to people waiting for their own second chance.”
