Over 101,000 people in the United States are currently waiting for a lifesaving kidney transplant (National Kidney Foundation, n.d.). The average time to receive a kidney from a deceased donor is between three to five years, but in some cases it can be longer depending on the region you are listed in, blood type and antibody levels (National Kidney Foundation, n.d.). 

Patients have the opportunity to search for living donors, but this can be a difficult process. It requires patients to publicly share their personal stories and ask individuals to consider donating a kidney. This can be uncomfortable, especially when opening up to the public. Additionally, many patients lack an understanding of social media platforms, which are powerful tools for reaching a wider audience. 

My civic engagement project aims to empower patients to share their stories by providing guides to walk them through the process of creating social media accounts. These guides will also help patients share their stories in a way that inspires a call to action. I have partnered with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center’s Transplant Institute in order to conduct this work. 

This is a topic I am passionate about because it is something I have personally experienced and benefited from. The support from others in a time of need shows compassion and provides a sense of hope. 

Through this work, I aim to empower patients to advocate for themselves, find living donors and receive the gift of life.