Donate donations, emphasize the crisis of kidney diseases and lack of donations

Lafayette Parish – When the nation marked National Month in April in April, the Louisian National Foundation sounds the alarm for a growing, silent epidemic: kidney disease and the urgent need for more organ donors.

Kidney disease affects more than 1 out of 7 American adults, but 9 out of 10 do not know that they have it Until it is too late, according to the foundation. This delayed diagnosis often means a dialysis or transplant, the only option for survival.

“I was on a business trip in Australia when I fell against dialysis,” said Pesh Patel, a kidney patient and graft receiver. “Within two hours after entering the emergency room, I was in the intensive care unit with a 24-hour dialysis machine on me. You never know what will happen.”

Patel received a kidney transplant in 2018 through a paired exchange, but the organ was rejected after 2.5 years. Now he's one of the 89,792 Americans are waiting for a kidneyAs part of A National transplant list with over 103,000 people. Alone in Louisiana, 1,827 people are waiting for an organ – and 89% of them are waiting for a kidney.

“At the moment my waiting time is 7 to 10 years because I am positive,” said Patel. “If I don't find a living donor, I'm on the list for so long.”

Jobie Lagrange, Pesh Patel, National Kidney Foundation by Louisiana

Patel founded a kidney life, a non -profit organization that focused on education, attorney and awareness of kidney patients. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the National Nidney Foundation of Louisiana and for National Advisory Boards for Policy and Education.

“I created the foundation because I realized that there were not enough loud voices,” said Patel.

Jobie Lagrange, Pesh Patel, National Kidney Foundation by Louisiana

“Many patients are overwhelmed, lost and isolated on their journey. I wanted to create a platform on which we could be together – as a collective.”

Despite the record numbers in 2024 with 48,000 transplants a total of 27,332 kidney transplants, The gap remains massive. Only 6,290 kidneys came from living donors, and the waiting list continues to grow. There are now 555,000 Americans on dialysis.

“Being an organ donor can save up to eight lives,” said Patel. “There are people like me another meal with their family, another hug, another birthday. You can't measure that.”

Patel encourages people to learn about life donations and to explore programs such as Paired Exchange or the kidney voucher program with which donors can help, even if they are not a direct match.

Jobie Lagrange, Pesh Patel, National Kidney Foundation by Louisiana

The public can register as a donor if you extend your driving licenses or visit Organdonor.gov. Those who are interested in becoming a living donor can contact Tulane Transplant or watch your website here or visit Kidoneyla.org to get more information.

“In South Louisiana we love to sit at the dining table at the dining table. These conversations have to happen here,” said Patel. “We won't be promised tomorrow.”