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I'M RICK MENDOZA, AND I'M IN KIDNEY FAILURE.
I need a living donor to save my life.

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MY REALITY TODAY

I wake up every morning knowing that my kidneys are functioning at only 10%. Three nights a week, I'm tethered to a dialysis machine for four grueling hours as it does the work my kidneys can no longer do. The treatments leave me exhausted, sometimes with splitting headaches, and difficulty sleeping at night. Some days I feel like I'm drowning in my own body's toxins.

This is my second battle with end-stage kidney disease. I was born with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), a genetic condition that slowly destroys kidney function over time. What started as manageable symptoms in my 40s has become a daily fight for survival.

Dialysis is keeping me alive, but it's not living. Each session puts tremendous strain on my heart and other organs. Without a kidney transplant, my health will continue to deteriorate. The harsh reality is that dialysis is a temporary bridge, not a long-term solution.

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Dialysis patients are at a significantly higher risk for cardiovascular complications, which are the leading cause of death in this population. These complications include left ventricular hypertrophy, heart failure, coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death. 

WHY I NEED YOUR HELP

5-7 YEAR WAIT

Over 100,000 Americans are waiting for kidney transplants right now. With my O-positive blood type, the wait for a deceased donor kidney could be 5-7 years in Colorado. I may not have that long.

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KIDNEY TO LIVE

But here's the remarkable truth: Donors only need one kidney to live a completely healthy life.

20+ YEARS OF LIFE

A living donor kidney is my best hope. Long-term survival is significantly better from a living donor kidney. And kidneys from living donors generally begin functioning immediately after being transplanted.  Living donor kidneys often function for 20+ years.

ABOUT ME

I'm a Colorado transplant (pun intended) who moved to Denver in 1995 and fell in love with this state. I'm a political science graduate turned HR professional, a devoted husband and father, a history enthusiast, and a terrible but enthusiastic golfer. I have two dogs (Snickers and Lil Roo) and two cats (Jangle and Smores) who keep our house lively.

​Most importantly, I'm someone who believes in the power of human kindness. I was brought up Christian and attended Catholic school in Mesa, AZ where I served as an altar boy, learning early on about the importance of caring for others. My faith has taught me that we're called to love our neighbors, and I've found that strangers can become family through the simple act of caring for another person's life.

 

If you share similar values and feel moved to learn more, I'd encourage you to consider exploring kidney donation testing—it might be one way to live out the love we're called to share. And if you change your mind at any point along the way, that's okay. 

Blood Type: O Positive

MY STORY OF HOPE & GRATITUDE

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Fifteen years ago, my amazing sister-in-law Sharla gave me the gift of life through her kidney donation. Her kidney didn't just save my life—it gave me life. I was able to be fully present for my daughter Haley's teenage years, cheering from the sidelines at her soccer games, helping with homework, and watching her graduate from Colorado State University just last year with a degree in Environmental Science and Sustainability.

Sharla's kidney donation was incredibly successful, lasting nearly 11 years—the typical expectancy is 10-12 years. Today, she's thriving as a mother of four boys, an elementary school teacher, and an inspiration to anyone considering donation. She has never regretted her decision for a single day.

But now, like many transplant recipients, I need another kidney. Transplant rejection is part of this journey, and I'm ready to fight again.

WHAT I'M FIGHTING FOR

I'm not just fighting for more time—I'm fighting for life itself. At 59, married to my incredible wife Michelle for 30+years, I have so much left to give and experience:

  • Watching Haley get married and walking her down the aisle.

  • Holding my future grandchildren and teaching them about the Colorado mountains I love.

  • Traveling with Michelle to all the places we've dreamed of visiting.

  • Being the husband, father, and friend my family deserves—not the exhausted, sick version of myself that dialysis creates.

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THE TRUTH ABOUT KIDNEY DONATION

I understand that considering kidney donation feels overwhelming. Let me share some facts that might ease your concerns:

MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY

Most donations are done laparoscopically with small incisions.

QUICK RECOVERY

Recovery from kidney donation typically takes 3 to 6 weeks, with most donors returning to work within 2-4 weeks.

MEDICAL COSTS COVERED

My insurance covers evaluation, surgery, and follow-up care.

NO GEOGRAPHIC RESTRICTIONS

You don't need to live in Colorado.

“Don’t hesitate to submit an application to your transplant center because they’re going to do all the workup that’s necessary to make sure that you’re healthy and that you are not going to have any issues after you donate a kidney."

- Dr. Jennifer R. George, Transplant Surgeon

HOW YOU CAN HELP

CONSIDER BEING MY HERO 

 

If you're interested in learning about donation, please fill out this confidential form: UC Health Living Donor Survey

 

Contact UC Health Living Donor Team:

SHARE MY STORY

 

Please share this page with your family, friends, coworkers, church groups, book clubs—anyone who might be moved to help or know someone who could.

Website: www.kidney4rick.com

TALK TO SHARLA
 
My original donor, Sharla, is happy to speak with anyone considering donation about the process and how it has affected her life.
 
Just fill out the Contact Us form below and we'll arrange a call or email chat.

Thank you so much for your interest in learning more about giving life. This form will notify me by email for direct follow-up. If you'd rather remain anonymous, please reach out to:  

UC Health Living Donor Team:

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