Who Am I
Hi, I’m Zac, and I need a kidney donor.
When I was 18, just a wee college freshman, I was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, specifically membranous nephropathy. At the time, we didn't know how quickly it would progress, but I was told there was a good chance I would eventually need a kidney transplant.
Being diagnosed at such a pivotal time in my life gave me a perspective on how I wanted to spend my time that most people don't have at 18. I wanted to have a positive impact on the people around me and leave my communities a little better than I found them.
I graduated from Colorado School of Mines with an engineering degree and have spent the past 16 years working for an electrical contractor. I’ve built a career I’m proud of and have had the opportunity to work with a lot of great people along the way.
Baseball has been another big part of my life. For the past 20 years, I've coached and worked with youth, high school, and professional athletes. I've also had the opportunity to speak at national coaching conferences and help influence how baseball is taught across the country.
Whether through my career, coaching, or simply being there for the people around me, I've always tried to make a positive difference.
Why I need a kidney donor
Two decades of treatment have slowed the progression of my disease, but we haven't been able to stop it. My kidney function has now declined to the point where I need a transplant.
The Transplant Waitlist
I'm currently on the deceased-donor transplant waitlist, where the estimated wait is 2–5 years. But my doctors strongly recommend finding a living donor.
A living donor could help reduce the health risks associated with prolonged dialysis and give me a better chance at long-term health. Living-donor kidneys can last 20-40 years, compared with 8–15 years for kidneys from deceased donors.
Why Not a Family Member?
My family has been incredibly supportive and have gone through the screening process because they wanted to donate, but unfortunately, none have been medically eligible to donate to me.
So now I'm reaching beyond my family and hoping that a friend, coworker, acquaintance, or even someone I've never met might be willing to learn more about living donation.
By sharing my story to your group of family and friends, you help to increase the number of people who may consider kidney donation.
You can find out if you're able to be a donor by starting the screening process with the National Kidney Registry (link below). The process is easy to complete and potential donors have access to the NKR’s nationwide donor support network.
What a new kidney would mean for me and those around me
A new kidney would mean much more than improved health. It would give me more time to keep doing the things that have mattered to me throughout my life: investing in the people around me, spending time with my family and friends, and leaving things a little better than I found them.
For the past 20 years, even as my kidney disease has progressed, I've tried to use my time and experiences to help others. Through baseball, I've had the privilege of mentoring athletes, supporting coaches, and helping people grow both on and off the field. My career has given me another community of people to learn from, work alongside, and hopefully make a difference for.
I've seen firsthand that a small investment in someone can have an impact that lasts far beyond the moment. That's something I want to continue doing for as long as I can.
A successful transplant would give me the opportunity to spend more time with the people I love, continue my career, keep coaching and mentoring, and contribute to the communities that have given me so much.
I don't know exactly what the next 20 years will look like. But I know what I want to do with them: keep showing up for the people around me, keep helping where I can, and keep trying to make a positive difference.
A new kidney would give me more time.
I'm hoping to use that time well.
Hear from those closest to Zac
Stories from those who know Zac best
0/0
Help others get to know Zac
How You Can Help
- Get screened and donate through the National Kidney Registry.
- No commitment. You can stop the process at any point.
- Donor financial assistance, protection, and support with Donor Shield.
- Remote donation: Donate and recover at a transplant center close to home.
- Convenient scheduling: You choose when to donate.
If donating isn't right for you, or you're unable to donate, you can still help.
- Share this site with your friends, family, on social media, email, etc. Use the Share my story button in the top bar to get started.
- Signup on this site and share what Zac has meant in your life and upload pictures.
By sharing my story to your group of family and friends, you help to increase the number of people who may consider donating to me.
Maybe someone you know has considered donating in the past, but never knew someone in need of a kidney. You reaching out could be the spark that convinces them to save a life.
Image Gallery
Visualizing the lives impacted by Zac