Darlene Goch is a 66-year-old former registered nurse from Port Huron, Michigan, whose life has been deeply affected by kidney disease. She spent her entire career in the medical field, beginning as a Certified Nursing Assistant and eventually becoming a Registered Nurse. Known as a positive thinker, creative, kind, and someone who is always helping others, Darlene has spent much of her life caring for people.

In 2020, Darlene was diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease after a biopsy revealed a rare kidney disease, along with the effects of long-term diabetes and hypertension. Before receiving her diagnosis, she had already been experiencing serious symptoms. She became very sick and experienced repeated falls that resulted in fractures in her spine. Multiple surgeries were required to stabilize and reduce the pain from those fractures.

During this difficult period, Darlene also developed sepsis and required major surgery and weeks of IV antibiotics. Her affected left kidney eventually had to be removed. A few months later, her remaining kidney failed, and she began dialysis in 2021.

Today, Darlene receives dialysis three times every week, with each treatment lasting approximately three hours and fifteen minutes. Dialysis has become a major part of her life, requiring strict fluid and dietary restrictions, medications, regular laboratory testing, and a schedule that cannot simply be skipped.

Now, Darlene is working toward a kidney transplant at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center in Houston, Texas. She also has a potential living donor who will begin testing once Darlene’s evaluation is complete.

After everything she has endured, Darlene is hoping for the opportunity to live a healthier and more active life again.