Natalie's Story
Natalie was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) when she was just 7 years old. For most of her life, she has carried this disease with her, watching it grow heavier and more present with each passing year. Today, that presence shows up as daily pain, chronic fatigue and swelling that never fully leaves her legs. But what people often don't see is the weight it puts on her mind. Some days are harder than others, and living with a chronic illness means carrying an invisible battle even on the days she looks fine.
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What people might not expect is that Natalie's house is full of plants. She is a reader, a traveler and someone who genuinely treasures a free weekend spent relaxing with the people she loves most. Her values are simple and steady: family, friendship and her faith.
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She is a daughter, a parent, an aunt and, most proudly, a Nana. Every one of those roles centers on the same thing, showing up for the people she cherishes. And even on her hardest days, that is exactly what she still does. As Natalie puts it:
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"Even with PKD, I still show up."
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That is who Natalie is. Not defined by her diagnosis, but shaped by her resilience, her love for her family and her quiet determination to keep going.
Hope for the Future
For Natalie, a kidney isn't just a medical procedure. It's a new outlook on life. It's the ability to do more of the things that bring her joy, without pain and fatigue standing in the way. It's more time. More memories. More ordinary days with the people she loves.
Recovery
Ask her what she'd do first after recovering, and her answer is refreshingly simple: eat whatever she wants, just for one meal. It's a small wish that says everything about how much this disease has taken from everyday life, and how much a transplant would give back.
Personality
A few things you might not know about Natalie: she's a tea person, not coffee. Soup is her ultimate comfort food. She shares her home with two cats. And her favorite place in the world isn't a place at all, it's simply wherever her children are. If a free plane ticket landed in her hands tomorrow, she'd use it to finally see Thailand.
Finding A Donor
What keeps her going on the difficult days is knowing that things will get better, and leaning on a support system that has never wavered. When asked what she's most grateful for, her answer doesn't hesitate: family.Â
A Message to Potential Donors
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Age & Health
Medical Screening
Psychological Readiness
To anyone considering being tested as a donor: even if you aren’t a match for Natalie, you can choose to be paired with someone who is and that act will allow Natalie to be paired with a match. The willingness to be tested is a huge act of kindness and will never be taken for granted.
A comprehensive medical evaluation is required, including blood tests and imaging, to ensure the donor's safety and compatibility with the recipient.
Donors must undergo a psychological assessment to ensure they fully understand the risks and are prepared to handle the physical and emotional impact.
"I can't wait until I can feel like a normal person."
A living kidney donation would offer Natalie a real chance at that normal life, and a far better transplant outcome than remaining on the waiting list, potentially allowing her to avoid dialysis altogether.
Reach out and express
interest.
Contact Houston Methodist J.C. Walter Jr. Transplant Center at 713-441-5451 or visit their website to let them know you're interested in being evaluated as a living donor for Natalie. Please reference her directly by name.
Taking the First Steps to Become Her Donor
Complete an initial health questionnaire.
The transplant team will ask you a series of confidential health and lifestyle questions to determine if you're a good initial candidate to move forward. This step is quick and does not commit you to anything.
Considering becoming a living donor is a generous and meaningful decision, and it starts with just a few simple steps.
Undergo testing and
evaluation.
If you move forward, you'll complete blood work and a full medical evaluation. This process is thorough, confidential and designed to protect your health as much as Natalie's.
Not a match?
You can still help.
If you aren't a direct match for Natalie, you may be able to enter a paired donation program, where you donate to a matching recipient elsewhere and Natalie receives a kidney from a donor who is compatible with her. Every willing participant strengthens the chain, even if the match isn't direct.
"Living donation isn't just about giving me or someone else a kidney. It's about giving me more time, better health and the chance to make more memories with the people I love."