My name is Ann Shambaugh. I am a child of God, wife, mother, and I’m recently retired after teaching elementary school students for 35 years. Unfortunately, retirement hasn’t been easy. While I do miss the children, the reason is because I’m also very sick and in urgent need of kidney transplant.

When I was ten years old, I was diagnosed with type one diabetes. Living with diabetes, especially for a child, with the constant blood tests and food restrictions, was never fun. Even though it has always been a challenge, I have always persevered. I’m married to a wonderful man, I raised a daughter I couldn’t be more proud of, and I was able to dedicate my life to educating our young minds. What I never expected, because I have always stayed on top of my health, was that the diabetes would destroy my kidneys.

For over a year now I have had to do dialysis every night for about nine hours to stay alive. It’s exhausting, it’s painful, and it’s isolating. The procedure is so taxing on my body that I always feel weak and don’t have the energy to do so many of the small things we take for granted.

Living with kidney failure has been the challenge of my life, but I’m doing the best I can to take care of my physical and mental health. I’m eating healthy, I have a great support team, and I tutor children once a week.

The gift of life from a living kidney donor would not only save my life, but it would allow me to really live—to enjoy time with loved ones, be independent, and just feel normal. I know that donating a kidney is a big ask. You can help me by sharing my story. From the bottom of my heart — thank you.