Floral designer and living donor kidney transplant recipient Claudia Morgan shares her experience living with polycystic kidney disease (PKD), postponing the reality of kidney failure for a trip to Paris, and turning to her church for help with finding a living donor. Claudia speaks openly about life on dialysis - including the bond you form with your ‘dialysis family' - as well as her reluctance to share her health condition with others, pushing out of her comfort zone to find a living donor through social media, and what it’s like to go ‘viral.’ 

Watch Claudia, her pastor and youth pastor discuss her experience finding a living donor, including Claudia’s viral video: https://youtu.be/cM7JmfNNb0o?t=4889  

PKD Foundation of Canada  https://www.endpkd.ca/ 

In this episode:  

Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is an inherited disorder in which clusters of cysts develop primarily within your kidneys, causing your kidneys to enlarge and lose function over time. Read more: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/polycystic-kidney-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20352820#:~:text=Polycystic%20kidney%20disease%20(PKD)%20is,and%20lose%20function%20over%20time.  

In hemodialysis, a machine filters wastes, salts and fluid from your blood when your kidneys are no longer healthy enough to do this work adequately. Hemodialysis (he-moe-die-AL-uh-sis) is one way to treat advanced kidney failure and can help you carry on an active life despite failing kidneys. Read more: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/hemodialysis/about/pac-20384824  

Please note, this episode was recorded prior to March 2020. For the most up to date information on the Transplant Ambassador Program (TAP) please visit their website: https://transplantambassadors.ca/ 

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network.