From surfing in Costa Rica to fighting for his life.
Hi, I'm Brandon. I'm a 43-year-young male looking for a kidney donor. At only 15 I was diagnosed with IgA nephropathy through a routine sports physical — elevated protein and creatinine in my urine. I felt completely fine, and the diagnosis didn't seriously affect my life again until my 30s.
Through college and the years after, I tried everything I could to slow or reverse the damage — vegan, Paleo, keto, carnivore. None of them worked, even though there's a known link between IgA nephropathy and gut health. I kept searching, kept hoping.
I've always loved sports. Soccer, tennis and golf growing up. I later discovered a deep love for surfing when I moved to Costa Rica for three years, trying a fruitarian lifestyle that I hoped would help my kidneys. It was there that I ended up in hospital with kidney failure and had to be flown back to the US for emergency dialysis.
After months on hemodialysis, I switched to peritoneal dialysis and spent 15 grueling months on it — becoming emaciated. My mom and sister moved in to care for me. I eventually switched back to hemodialysis, and spent all of 2023 rebuilding my health. Then came open-heart surgery to replace a mitral valve that was causing me to cough up blood.
Now on the mend and on the active transplant list, I'm still searching. One incredible person went through all the testing, was approved — and ultimately decided it wasn't for her. It's been a rollercoaster. But I remain deeply hopeful, and I'm asking you to share my story.