Charles Cranford is loving life and for good reason. A little more than 6 ½ years ago, he was one of more than 120,000 people on average awaiting an organ transplant in the United States. He suffered with chronic kidney disease for more than 20 years and was on the brink of needing dialysis. Fortunately, Charles was one of the lucky ones and was able to receive a life-saving kidney from a living donor.

His wife, Amy, the living donor, donated on his behalf as they were blood type incompatible and they were listed on the paired kidney exchange program. More commonly called the SWAP, three donors and three recipients were located from different areas of the country and through that miraculous process, he received a kidney before dialysis was required. In the years following, his health and energy has returned and he spends a good deal of time as a volunteer spreading the word about the need for registered donors to reduce the large number of those of the National Waiting list. He’s very grateful!