After a lifesaving kidney donation from her mother, Kenya found strength, purpose, and a path to give back.
Today, Kenya is just days away from earning her Master’s in Public Health at San Diego State University, driven by a mission to support others in health care. She wrote her thesis on organ donation, volunteers as a counselor at The Painted Turtle—a camp that brings the joy of camp life to children with serious medical conditions—and is now applying for roles where she can make a meaningful impact in health care.
Her journey to this point hasn’t been easy, however.
Although Kenya was born with two kidneys, one was polycystic—filled with fluid-filled cysts—and the other wasn’t growing properly. At 13, doctors removed the nonfunctioning kidney, and her health began to decline quickly.
“I remember being so fatigued. My bones ached, my joints hurt. I weighed less than 80 pounds and couldn’t gain weight,” Kenya said.
She was placed on the transplant list, but her mom didn’t wait. She began the process to become a living donor. On January 22, 2016, Kenya received her mom’s kidney—a gift that changed everything.
“The transformation was immediate. I had energy. I could eat what I wanted. I gained weight. Today, I can lift more than I used to weigh. That gets me emotional. Being able to exercise and feel strong is a privilege and a blessing.”
Now 24, Kenya doesn’t take a single day of health for granted.
“My mom saved my life—and that gift gave me a future. I want others to know that hope is real, and that one ‘yes’ can change everything.”
To learn more about Rady Children’s Living Donor Program, click here.