At the age of 10, I was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a hereditary condition that has affected everyone on my mom’s side of the family. In my short life, I have endured the devastating effects of PKD, cyst bleeds that kept me in the hospital for nearly a year, seizures, scoliosis back surgery, pancreatitis, a congenital anomaly, over 70 blood transfusions, the removal of both of my kidneys, dialysis, and a serious motorcycle accident. I have been near death many times over the years. In 2002, I received the incredible gift of a kidney transplant. I thank my donor, Sally Robertson, and my transplant surgeon from Johns Hopkins, Dr. Robert Montgomery, for saving my life and my amazing parents, Pam and Bill Cover, for giving me the will to live. Now I want to use my story to help others fighting kidney disease. One day, I want to be able to say that I played a small part in helping to find a cure for kidney disease so that no one else will suffer the way I did. I’ve pulled through everything so I can live to see that day.
Please join me in supporting UKRO by making a donation to research. You can support us online by clicking the Donate button at the top of the website or mail your donation to UKRO at 11111 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 1750, Los Angeles, CA 90025.
Together we can do our part to create a brighter future for so many!
Valen Keefer
