In March 2016, Don Reed learned he had stage 4 kidney disease after getting routine bloodwork to renew his commercial driver’s license.
“I was shocked. My doctor said I’d be on dialysis within six months.” After meeting with a nephrologist, Don underwent testing to be put on the national kidney transplant list. He was approved in December 2016.
Don dedicated himself to controlling the disease’s progression. He bought a bike, watched his diet, and continued working as a short-haul trucker — successfully delaying dialysis by six years.
“But then I started feeling increasingly tired. I also got reflux when I ate or even drank water.”
In March 2022, Don started peritoneal dialysis at home with help from his wife, Kim, a respiratory therapist. “I knew nothing about it, but it’s easy to learn,” she says. “And the dialysis made an immediate difference.”
Remarkably, Don continued driving his truck during dialysis. “I’ve been working since I was 12 years old,” he says. “I told myself I had to push through this. I decided to think of it as an inconvenience.”
“During 14 weeks on dialysis, Don had 12 alerts for a possible kidney, so we had a reason to hope,” says Kim. “It did get frustrating, though,” admits Don. “One day, we were just blocks away when the hospital called telling us to go home. My nephrologist and kidney surgeon had decided I should wait, telling me, ‘We can do better.’ That’s when I realized how much they cared about getting me the best kidney possible. The care team and the support I received were incredible.”
On July 22, Don got his 12th and final call to come to UPMC Harrisburg, where he learned he would be one of two patients sharing a deceased donor’s kidneys. He had surgery the morning of July 23 and was up walking the next day.
“Four days later, Don was home and out walking in our neighborhood,” says Kim.
“There were times when I wondered if this would be my last birthday or my last Christmas with our kids and grandkids. I look at things differently now,” says Don.
Kim says they are looking forward to things like their annual beach vacation — where Don plans to resume riding his bike on the boardwalk.
Donald’s treatment and results may not be representative of other cases.