'There's no feeling like knowing you can actually help save someone you love': Jackie Medici shares her living donor story

This story is part of a series highlighting how AKF's Living Donor Assistance Program™ is helping ease the financial burden associated with living kidney donors as they give the gift of life.   

In 2021, Jackie Medici's family was faced with a major health challenge: her brother Kory, who was 22 years old, announced that his kidneys were failing.  "Kory was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was just 18 months old," Jackie said. "As he got older, more and more complications started popping up." 

For people living with diabetes, kidney issues are not an uncommon complication. In the United States, diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease and kidney failure. 

"When we found out his kidneys were failing, it was a no-brainer," Jackie said. "I wanted to get tested [to be a donor for him]. Watching Kory deal with type 1 diabetes from such a young age — through all the pricks, pokes, high and lows — was hard. When he had to start dialysis, it was even harder."

Jackie's three other siblings and both of her parents also stepped forward to get tested, but unfortunately all five received denial letters. As the last person to get tested, Jackie and her family held out hope that she would be the match her brother needed. Fortunately, their wishes were granted. "After months of testing, we found out I was a match," Jackie said. "My whole family was overwhelmed with joy."

 The transplant took place on May 16, 2023, at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. "Mass General was incredible throughout the whole process," Jackie said, "[They provided] support and guidance and made sure I felt mentally and physically ready [for the surgery]. On the day of the transplant, every nurse, doctor and surgeon made me feel completely at ease."

It was that support, along with the support of their family and friends, that helped Jackie and her brother's recovery from surgery go so smoothly. "We have a very close-knit family, so they made it very easy for us," Jackie said. "Everyone came together to help however they could."

Jackie and her brother's recoveries were further aided by AKF's Living Donor Assistance Program (LDAP), which Mass General told her about during the transplant process. The program's mission is to increase access to living kidney donation by reimbursing out-of-pocket costs incurred by living kidney donors. While Jackie didn't hesitate to donate to her brother, she admits she had concerns about the potential financial impact donating a kidney could have on her life. Thankfully, those concerns were alleviated by LDAP, which helped her pay for gas, healthy foods and meals and follow-up care that wasn't covered by insurance. "The support from [the program] allowed me to focus fully on recovery without stress," Jackie said. 

Over two years after the transplant, Jackie said she's feeling great. "I'm back to my normal life, feeling healthy and strong," she said. When asked what she would say to someone who is considering becoming a living organ donor, Jackie said, "It's one of the most meaningful things that you can do. The process can feel overwhelming at times, but the support is there — and the outcome can change someone's life. It certainly changed mine. There's no feeling like knowing you can actually help save someone you love." 

To learn more about becoming a living donor, visit AKF's website. 

Get more information about AKF's Living Donor Assistance Program here.