Ken was just ten years old when he was diagnosed with kidney disease. His doctors tried to treat the condition for years, but by the time Ken was in college, it was clear he would need a kidney transplant.
During his second year of medical school, Ken’s father volunteered to be a live donor and ended up being a match. After his transplant, he was able to return to school and volunteer at a summer camp.
His kidney transplant allowed him to graduate with a medical degree. He was able to do physical activities that he could not do before the transplant.
Today, Ken works in pediatric nephrology, where he helps children who are faced with dialysis and kidney transplantation.
Unfortunately, due to organ rejection, Ken is now on dialysis and on the waiting list for a second kidney transplant.
“I had 10 good years with this kidney transplant,” he said. “Transplants help us get to a better quality of life. We can’t reach full potential without a working kidney.”
To give back, Ken has volunteered at various organ procedure organizations and has participated on panels for medical students to educate them about the need for organ donors and continued research in transplantation.
Update: Ken received his second kidney in July 2018
Organ donation/transplant is still a temporary and partial solution. We need to accelerate the developments of technologies to restore the normal operating capabilities of original but impaired organs, and to sustain/preserve the functions of donated/transplanted organs. Funding support for R&D in bio-medicine such as stem cell and micro-electro-mechanical devices should be increased.
Ken,
I’m a 2-time kidney transplant recipient and started a non-profit to help those in need. http://www.LKDN.org
Please reach out to me. I’d welcome speaking with you.
Hi Harvey!
Sorry, I just saw your comment. Thankfully I got a kidney in July! Thank you for reaching out and offering your help!
Ken
Another update! Coming up on 1 year since my second transplant now, and I got a fellowship from the American Society of Nephrology to continue developing my research on kidney! Thank you to my dad, my deceased donor, and their family for allowing me continue to thrive!
https://www.kidneynews.org/careers/perspectives/ken-sutha-md-phd-jared-j-grantham-research-fellowship-2019
This is great news Ken!
Ken is awesome. I met him 11 years ago at the transplant games. 🙂