Car Donation Stories
Has your car been anywhere special? Has anything unusual happened to it? We want to hear the story behind your car! Be sure to include the year, make and model of your vehicle, a photo, when you donated it to the National Kidney Foundation, and, of course, YOUR STORY!
Kidney Cars Program Satisfies Customer's Need to Drive Down Rate of Kidney Disease
Donna Orman of Thomasville, North Carolina, knows all about the struggles and painful decisions kidney patients face. She watched her young son, Zachary, battle Alport's Syndrome at age 15 and then kidney failure.
"At the time there was little information available about kidney disease, and through internet research I found the National Kidney Foundation," Donna said. "The National Kidney Foundation was invaluable in helping me understand what my son was going through and what I could do to help."
For nine years, Zachary continued to be active in high school, playing sports and participating in as many after-school activities for which he could sign up. He graduated high school in 1997, and started attending college.
"Zachary was always determined to not let this disease affect him, but we could tell he was getting worse and despite his valiant efforts in trying to hide how sick he was, we knew we had to do something," Donna said.
At that point, the family was tested to find a compatible kidney donor, and Zachary's father was found to be a match. Zachary received his kidney transplant in December 2002, and back to school in January 2003. He graduated from the University of North Carolina in 2004, and is now working towards becoming a nephrology pharmacist, so that he can help those with kidney disease.
Zachary's experience prompted Donna to support the National Kidney Foundation by donating her truck to the Kidney Cars Program. She wanted to help as well as make a difference in her own way.
"Watching my son overcome all the challenges connected with kidney disease, I saw that there was a real need to help," Donna said. "It gave me so much joy to donate my truck, because in a small way I was contributing to the vital programs that support thousands with kidney disease."
Donna encourages her family and friends to donate their used cars to the Kidney Cars program instead of dropping it off at a junk yard. "I know that the car went somewhere where it was needed, and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. I feel so blessed to have been able to give something back."
