Due to the impact of hurricane Helene has had on my family in Florida, I’m having to postpone the run ​for a future date. I will update once I have a new date. Thank you and God bless!

In January 2023, my childhood best friend confided in me that she needed to go on the ​kidney transplant list. Immediately I knew I had to get tested to see if I could help. The ​process to determine if I would be a suitable donor for her involved several tests and ​medical evaluations. In August 2023, I received the life-changing news: I was a match ​for her kidney transplant! We quickly moved forward and set the date for surgery on ​November 30, 2023 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. With great hope and ​anticipation, the day for donation arrived and I knew this was exactly where I was ​supposed to be.

After a successful surgery, I returned to Colorado to continue my recovery.

6 weeks later I took my first post-surgery run. And today, I’m back on the trails and ​aiming to raise awareness for living kidney donation through my passion for running.

On October 6, 2024, I intend to run from Moab, Utah, along the Kokopelli Trail and ​Colorado Riverfront trail to my home in Grand Junction, Colorado, totally 160 miles.

With over 90,000 individuals in the United States awaiting a life-saving kidney ​transplant, I aim to use each mile of the 160-mile trail to promote living kidney donation ​and encourage people to become organ, eye, and tissue donors after their death.

-Megan

In 2018 I inexplicably had an allergic reaction to a standard antibiotic that ​damaged my kidneys. With no previous health complications or family history, ​doctors had a hard time explaining my new diagnosis of Chronic Kidney ​Disease Stage 3.

With a continued healthy lifestyle and kidney-friendly diet, I was able to ​maintain stable kidney function and even bring a healthy baby into this world. ​Then, in July of 2022, I began the GI drug Entyvio for an unrelated health ​condition. I immediately felt “off” and soon learned that my kidney function ​had dropped to GFR 13, Stage 5 kidney failure.

While doctors were hopeful that months of high-dose steroids would undo the ​damage, it was soon obvious that was no possible. In January 2023, I was listed ​as “active” on the National Kidney Registry which means if a donor was ​matched, I would immediately get the life-saving transplant. As the average ​wait time is four to five years for a deceased donor’s kidney, my best chance ​would be to match with a living donor.

And then in walks Megan, or Megaboo, as I’ve always called her. Megan ​and I have been lifelong best friends, basically family. Megan followed my ​diagnosis closely and asked for the live donor application form. After ​several days of intense testing at the Mayo Clinic, we received the ​wonderful news that she was a match.

It doesn’t seem possible that September 30, 2024 will already make 10 ​months since our transplant. My kidney function is healthy and stable, ​which is improving so many parts of my body and my lifestyle. I am off ​blood pressure medicine, I am returning to exercise, gaining energy, and ​so much more.

Megan has afforded my family the invaluable gift of time. While I will ​always have frequent labs, yearly checkups, and medicines to take every ​12 hours, there is a new hope on this side of life. If you find yourself deep ​in the sickness and the waiting for a transplant, my prayer for you is to ​hold on. God will carry you through your suffering and never let go. I am ​beyond grateful for this gift of life.

~Regina

With 90,000 people in the U.S. waiting for a kidney, join us in Trail Running for Transplants to consider becoming a ​donor or simply help spread the word.

My goal is to have a newly registered donor sponsor one of the 160 miles trek. 160 miles = 160 new donors. Once you ​sign up on the registry link below, please also input your info under “section sponsorship” so we can see the number of ​sponsors grow! Please note: if you already have a heart icon on your license, you are already registered! Thanks for ​saying yes to Donate Life!

@trailrunning4transplants