Asking for a kidney is the
hardest thing I've ever done.
We’re born with two kidneys. We need only one to live a long, full, healthy life. I have Chronic Kidney Disease. Both of my kidneys are rapidly failing. I have no viable family donors. I’m looking for people to help me find a kidney donor for my transplant. You’ll help save my life.
Why a living donor?
A kidney from a living donor works better and lasts longer than a kidney from a deceased donor. Also, my wait for a deceased kidney donation is 8 years. The "golden time" for me to get a living donor kidney is from when I'm on the transplant list -- which is where I am -- but before I go on dialysis. Get more information without obligation. Simply fill out this form on my behalf (Charlie Allenson, 5/1/51): cornell.donor-screen.org.
If I have to go on dialysis while waiting for a deceased donor’s kidney, it will be both physically and emotionally debilitating. And I may not live long enough to get that kidney.
If I can find one person willing to donate a kidney on my behalf, my wait time will be reduced from years to a matter of months. A living donor will allow me to live and grow old with the love of my life, my wife, Harriet; see my daughter Carrie's kids, my grandkids, Mighty Max and Super Syd grow up; celebrate my step-son Dave’s marriage to Beth.
If I have to go on dialysis while waiting for a deceased donor’s kidney, it will be both physically and emotionally debilitating. And I may not live long enough to get that kidney.
If I can find one person willing to donate a kidney on my behalf, my wait time will be reduced from years to a matter of months. A living donor will allow me to live and grow old with the love of my life, my wife, Harriet; see my daughter Carrie's kids, my grandkids, Mighty Max and Super Syd grow up; celebrate my step-son Dave’s marriage to Beth.
Who is Charlie Allenson?
I like to think that I'm a loving husband, father, grandfather, and loyal friend. Much of my adult life has been dedicated to helping others. Now I'm the one who needs help.
For almost 15 years, once a week -- sun, tsunami, or blizzard -- I've been a volunteer musician at local hospitals. I've taken my guitar and iPad filled with songs, and done a weekly rock fest for the psych unit patients at New York Presbyterian Hospital. I've been doing the same thing for the cancer patients at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. I was fortunate enough to be honored as New Yorker of the Week for my volunteer music work. I give out guitar picks that read, "Music Heals." It does.
For almost 15 years, once a week -- sun, tsunami, or blizzard -- I've been a volunteer musician at local hospitals. I've taken my guitar and iPad filled with songs, and done a weekly rock fest for the psych unit patients at New York Presbyterian Hospital. I've been doing the same thing for the cancer patients at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. I was fortunate enough to be honored as New Yorker of the Week for my volunteer music work. I give out guitar picks that read, "Music Heals." It does.
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Several years ago my amazing niece Becca broke up with her boyfriend. His response was to shoot her to death. Since then I've been full-on volunteering in Gun Violence Prevention. My biggest project is producing the annual Concert Across America to End Gun Violence. I've helped raise thousands and thousands of dollars to help save lives by connecting with A-list performers to donate their time and talent including: Rosanne Cash, Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Melissa Etheridge, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Kevin Bacon, Rhiannon Giddens, and John Fogerty.
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My Family Album
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So that's me. I'd like to continue loving and cherishing my family and volunteering to help others.
To do that, I need a kidney.
To do that, I need a kidney.
There are several ways to donate a kidney.
They include direct donation if you're a physical match and a pre-emptive/voucher/paired donation where you donate in my name to someone else who is a match. I get a kidney "voucher" and move up the transplant list. You don’t need to be a relative. And blood type, ethnicity, and geographical location don’t matter. Finding a living donor of any kind does.
They include direct donation if you're a physical match and a pre-emptive/voucher/paired donation where you donate in my name to someone else who is a match. I get a kidney "voucher" and move up the transplant list. You don’t need to be a relative. And blood type, ethnicity, and geographical location don’t matter. Finding a living donor of any kind does.
Registration does not mean donation. It just means getting information.
Will you register on my behalf?
Learn more by registering at: cornell.donorscreen.org
Remember this is informational/educational only. Simply fill out the online form. Please use my name -- Charlie Allenson and birthdate, 5/1/51-- as the recipient. A member of the donor team will be in touch to answer all of your questions. The process is entirely confidential. You get your own healthcare advocate whose job is to put your needs ahead of mine.
- I won't know if you register
- I won't know if you're evaluated
- I won't know the results of your evaluation
- I won't know if you choose to become a donor or not
- A living donor can live a full, healthy life-span with one kidney
- All donor medical expenses are covered by my insurance
I hope you'll consider donating a kidney to save my life.
Please pass this along to everyone you know: family, friends, people you work with, people you worship with, and social media connections. And ask them to pass this on to their connections. The more people who see this, the better my chances of finding a kidney donor. And surviving. Thanks so much for taking time for me.
Charlie Allenson