Help Maggie Find a Kidney
Maggie
Maggie has always been the person who brings people together. She’s the planner, the cheerleader, the one who makes sure everyone feels cared for — whether that’s through a perfectly themed celebration, a meaningful trip with friends, or simply showing up when someone needs her.
Right now, Maggie is the one who needs support. She has Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), a genetic condition that has slowly affected her kidney function. She’s reached the point where a kidney transplant is necessary, and we’re sharing her story to help find a living donor match.
What is Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)?
Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is a genetic condition that causes cysts to grow on the kidneys over time. As the cysts grow, the kidneys gradually lose their ability to filter waste from the body.
Many people live with PKD for years before symptoms become severe. In Maggie’s case, the disease has progressed to the point where her kidneys can no longer do their job on their own, and a kidney transplant is now necessary.
Learn more about PKD.
Living Donation Process
01
Online Screening
The first step is to complete a confidential online screening survey through Mom’s hospital, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). The survey takes approximately 20 minutes and helps determine whether it is medically appropriate to move forward.
02
Initial Testing
If the online screening is approved, you will complete blood and urine testing at a medical lab near you. These tests evaluate your overall health and begin assessing compatibility.
03
Compatibility Review
Throughout the screening process, the transplant team determines the safest path forward. If you are a direct match, you may donate to Mom. If not, you may still help through a paired kidney exchange program that matches donors and recipients to ensure compatibility.
04
In-Person Evaluation
If you move forward, you would travel to Charleston for two days of additional testing at MUSC. This includes detailed medical evaluations and meetings with the transplant team to ensure donation would be safe for you.
05
Decision-Making
After the evaluation, you’ll have time to ask questions, reflect, and decide whether you’d like to move forward. There is no obligation to continue, and choosing not to proceed is always respected.
06
Surgery
If you choose to donate and are approved, the transplant surgery is scheduled. Living kidney donation is a well-established procedure, and transplant teams are highly experienced in supporting donors through the process.
07
Recovery and Follow-Up
Recovery times vary, but many donors return to normal activities within a few weeks. Donors receive follow-up care and guidance from the transplant team to support long-term health.
Check your donor eligibility
If you are open to learning more, the most important next step is to complete the Living Donor Program questionnaire.
This is not a commitment to donate.
It is simply a confidential screening process to determine whether you might be a viable candidate.
Please be sure to select “Maggie Eisemann” as the Named Recipient, when filling out the form. Filling out the donor questionnaire does not obligate you to anything. It does not mean you are committing to surgery or donation. It is simply the first step to see if donation is even possible.
How you can help
There are many ways to support Maggie during this time. Whether you’re able to learn more about living donation, share her story, or start the process, every bit of support helps more than you know.
Learn About Living Donation
Curious about what living kidney donation actually involves? This guide walks through eligibility, the evaluation process, surgery, and recovery, with clear and compassionate information.
Share Her Story
Not everyone is in a position to donate — and that’s okay. Sharing this page with your own circles helps widen the search and increases the chances of finding a match.
Check Your Donation Eligability
If you’d like to explore the possibility of becoming a living kidney donor, MUSC Health provides a secure and confidential screening process. Clicking the link below will take you directly to their official Living Donor Program questionnaire.
FAQ
What does it mean to be a living kidney donor?
A living kidney donor is someone who donates one of their kidneys to a person in need of a transplant. Most people are born with two kidneys and can live a full, healthy life with one.
Am I too old or not healthy enough to donate?
Many people assume they wouldn’t qualify, but eligibility depends on a range of factors that are evaluated carefully by medical professionals. The only way to know for sure is through a confidential screening process — and many people are surprised to learn they are eligible.
What is the medical evaluation process like?
Potential donors go through a thorough medical evaluation to ensure donation is safe for them. This includes lab tests, imaging, and conversations with medical professionals whose job is to protect the donor’s health above all else.
Is living kidney donation safe?
Living kidney donation is a well-established medical procedure. Donors are carefully screened, and long-term outcomes for donors are generally very positive. Doctors will not move forward if donation poses a risk to the donor.
What is the recovery time for donors?
Recovery varies by person, but many donors return to normal daily activities within a few weeks. Transplant teams provide detailed guidance and support throughout the recovery process.
Will donating a kidney affect my long-term health?
Most living donors go on to live normal, healthy lives with no long-term impact on life expectancy or overall health. Donors continue to receive follow-up care after surgery.
Talk to someone who’s been through the process
If you’re curious about living donation but have questions or concerns, you don’t have to figure it out alone. One of our family members went through the evaluation process with the intention of donating a kidney, but the doctors determined he was not a viable donor.
They’re happy to share what the process was like from a personal perspective — what they learned, what surprised them, and how the experience felt — with no expectations or pressure.
You can reach out to Carolyn's dad, Jeff, to learn more about the process without making any commitments.
Thank you.
Thank you for taking the time to be here and for considering the many ways you might help Maggie. We know this is no small ask, and we’re deeply grateful for your care, compassion, and support—whatever form that may take.
With love and gratitude,
The Eisemann Family
Maggie, Joel, Perry, Ben & Zach