Chris Needs a Kidney

06/02/2026

Chris Needs a Kidney 💚

Today, we’re asking you to consider something extraordinary.

Right now, Chris is in need of a kidney donor. While many people wait years hoping for a match, a living donor can give someone the chance to get back to living life—spending time with family, making memories, and looking forward to the future.

Did you know that one healthy person can live a full, healthy life with just one kidney?

A donor doesn’t have to be a family member or close friend. Sometimes, a complete stranger makes the incredible decision to change someone’s life forever.

Could you be Chris’s match? Or could you help by sharing his story?

Every share, conversation, and act of support brings us one step closer to finding the person who can make a difference.

💚 Please keep Chris in your thoughts and help spread the word.

05/17/2026

Latest update… unfortunately, Chris is temporarily inactive on the kidney transplant list again. First it was the wound on his leg, which thankfully healed, and now there are a few nodules on his thyroid separate from the parathyroid issue he previously had removed. One lymph node that was either not there or very small in 2023 has now grown to about 1.5 cm. Normally this is something they may just monitor, but the doctor is consulting with the transplant team to see if they want a biopsy. She is not overly concerned about the enlarged lymph node itself, but based on our experience, we know transplant will likely want every box checked before reactivating him.

The difficult part is that the area is surrounded by calcium buildup, which unfortunately is not surprising since calcium and calcification seem to play a role in every complication we face. It’s frustrating, but we’ll go through the process and hope he can be activated again soon.

The positive news is that there is no recovery time needed from this biopsy, so once it’s completed, he will hopefully be presented again and reactivated quickly. It always feels like there is another hurdle in this journey, but we are incredibly grateful that he is nowhere near where he was the last two years. Overall, he is doing well, feeling better, moving around more, and able to do things again. I often think back to when he couldn’t even get off the couch, and I hope we never return to that place.

Hopefully this time next year, Chris has his kidney.

Please continue to share Chris’s story and this page. You never know where a donation could come from.

05/13/2026

We have been so lucky that most people understand what Chris is going through every day. Dialysis is incredibly tough on him and takes so much out of him — literally. We continue to wait and hope for the call.

Please continue to keep Chris in your thoughts and share his page. Thank you for all of the love and support. 💚

04/26/2026

Chris update:

Chris has had a few appointments recently, including an important one to confirm he is still eligible for the transplant list. The good news is—he is. The not-so-good news is that his status is currently on hold until a cut on his leg fully heals.

We originally thought it would take about a week, but it’s been closer to three. He has an appointment this Tuesday with Dr. K to have the bandages removed and check on the healing. It is healing well, but with kidney failure, everything takes longer. For now, this means he cannot receive offers—but compared to other obstacles we’ve faced, this feels like a small one. We know he needs to be in the best possible condition and would never want to risk receiving a kidney while his body is still working to heal and fight infection. So, for now, we wait.

He also recently had a fistulagram (I’ve shared about this before). This is a routine procedure to make sure his body is being cleaned of toxins as effectively as possible during dialysis. They were able to improve his blood flow from about 60% to 90%, which is great. While 60 was still getting the job done, 90 is much better—anything below 60 is not ideal. Over time, with frequent use of the fistula, calcium buildup can narrow the arteries and make it harder for blood to flow properly. During the procedure, they use a balloon to widen those narrowed areas.

As we were leaving, the nurse said, “See you next year…” and I said, “Nope—we’re on the 3-month plan.” It’s not ideal, but it’s what we need to do.typically this is a 6 month to a year procedure.

We are incredibly grateful to have a team of doctors we trust who truly know and support Chris.

Please continue to share—living donation is always a healthier option than a deceased donor. Thank you for all of your support. We’ll keep updating as we learn more.

Thank you for your interest in being a living donor at MGH. We appreciate your altruism. Please answer all the questions to the best of your knowledge. Providing your relevant health information will help us determine your eligibility to become a living donor. Please include your email address as it...

04/03/2026

We were really hoping a kidney would come through before today, but that hasn’t happened. So, we’ll be spending the day at Massachusetts General Hospital for Chris’s re-evaluation for the transplant list.

These appointments are always nerve-wracking, as it can feel like they’re looking for any reason not to keep him listed. We’re hoping today is just a formality, with no additional testing needed and no reason for him to be deactivated.

If anyone has ever considered it, living kidney donation is always an option.

Please share his story!

03/19/2026

Another 2am thought while sitting here, waiting to get off dialysis…

We’re still waiting for the call. The call that changes everything.

Chris needs a kidney—and it doesn’t have to come from a deceased donor. A living donor could save his life. If you’ve ever even considered being a donor, please consider taking that step and reaching out to the transplant team at Massachusetts General Hospital Transplant Center. https://www.mghlivingdonors.org The process is confidential, and you can even be tested anonymously.

These late nights… they take a toll. The exhaustion, the waiting, the emotional weight—it impacts not just Chris, but everyone who loves him. Every hour feels heavier when you’re just hoping for a second chance.

If you can’t donate, please share. You never know who might see this and be the reason everything changes.

Thank you for keeping Chris Phinney in your thoughts 💚

03/19/2026

Another 2am thought while sitting here, waiting to get off dialysis…

We’re still waiting for the call. The call that changes everything.

Chris needs a kidney—and it doesn’t have to come from a deceased donor. A living donor could save his life. If you’ve ever even considered being a donor, please consider taking that step and reaching out to the transplant team at Massachusetts General Hospital Transplant Center. https://www.mghlivingdonors.org The process is confidential, and you can even be tested anonymously.

These late nights… they take a toll. The exhaustion, the waiting, the emotional weight—it impacts not just Chris, but everyone who loves him. Every hour feels heavier when you’re just hoping for a second chance.

If you can’t donate, please share. You never know who might see this and be the reason everything changes.

Thank you for keeping Chris Phinney in your thoughts 💚

#

03/12/2026

Today is world kidney day! Still hoping to get the call! It doesn’t have to be a deceased donor. If you think donation could be an option please reach out. You only need one kidney. Continue to share our story! 💚🌎🙏

https://www.massgeneral.org/transplant/transplant-programs/kidney-transplant-program

World Kidney DayRaising awareness of theimportance of our kidneysWho we areWKD 2025 Scientific EditorialAre Your Kidneys Ok?Detect early to protect kidney healthRead the 2025 Scientific EditorialKidney QuizAre your kidneys healthy? Take the quiz to find outTake the quiz find out more find out more f...

03/08/2026

💚 we will continue to support Chris

03/03/2026

Prayers Chris gets the call soon!

March is Kidney Month.

For some, it’s just another month.

For others… it’s hope.

Right now, someone is finishing dialysis.
Someone is watching their phone light up.
Someone is praying this is their month.

A month for a call.
A month for a donor.
A month for a second chance at life.

Kidney disease is often silent.
But awareness is not.
Action is not.
Hope is not.

This month, we educate.
We advocate.
We stand with every kidney warrior still fighting.

If you believe no one should wait alone,
Share this.

💚 Someone is praying this is their month.