Kevin's Story

Name: Kevin Crago                                                
City/Town: Cincinnati, Ohio                              
Age at Donation: 59                                              
Occupation: Sales and Marketing                                        
Date of Donation: February 5, 2020              
Hospital and Location: The Christ Hospital; Cincinnati, Ohio

Did you know your recipient?    
No.

What made you decide to donate?
My wife donated a kidney before me. I must say, I was rather hesitant about her volunteering to donate to a non-family member. However, the procedure went so smoothly and she resumed her pre-donation lifestyle with no side effects, so I realized it was something I could do, too.

Was it a tough decision?
Not really. I kept reading about how many people die per year waiting for a donation. I just kept thinking to myself, “If I have a spare someone can use, why not share it with someone who needs it?”

What were your biggest concerns about donating?
Volunteering for major surgery. I had never been in the hospital, much less had major surgery. Although I knew I had a skilled surgeon, I was still nervous.

Kevin’s surgery went off without a hitch and he heard soon after his recipient’s did too.

How did your family and friends react when you told them you were going to donate?
Everyone supported me 100%.

How did your surgery go?
It went as planned. No surprises.

What was your recovery like while you were in the hospital?
It went very well. The staff at Christ Hospital are the best.

What was your recovery like at home?
Initially, not very comfortable. I had to go home with a catheter because my bladder would not empty own its own before it was time for me to go home.

What was the most difficult part of recovery?
My catheter began to leak while I was at home. I had to go to the emergency room for help. They ended up removing the catheter because my bladder was working normally and would empty on its own.

When did you return to work?
Two weeks after surgery.

How long was the process from making the first contact about donating until your surgery?
About four months.

Is there anything about being a kidney donor that's surprised you?
The whole process was actually very smooth with very little pain or discomfort (except for that catheter). Donating a kidney is a very smooth process to go through to help someone in need.

Would you do it again?
Absolutely.