Melanie's Friends and Family are Searching for a Living Kidney Donor

Melanie Anderson first received a diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in 2022. Now, she needs a kidney transplant. Family and friends are spreading the word, hoping that a living donor will come forward.

“The last three years I’ve had a series of disappointing doctor visits, as each one brought on worse or moderately bad news,” she said. Like many people with CKD, Melanie’s kidney problems can’t be attributed to a single cause. “My condition has worsened over the years, even with a strict diet and constant medications,” she added.

As a landscape architect, Melanie has designed parks in Lancaster, Lackawanna, Tonawanda, and Grand Island. In 2017, she helped a team develop and implement a landscape plan for the DeGlopper Memorial Park in Grand Island.

“From 2018-2022, I volunteered with the ACE Mentorship program, where we taught high school students the fundamental design methods of architecture, construction, and engineering,” Melanie said. “The program facilitated student groups from the Charter School for Applied Technologies and North Tonawanda High School. In 2022, we built and delivered a Batman playhouse to a young boy from the Make-A-Wish Foundation.”

Spending time with the people she loves is what Melanie enjoys the most. Sledding with her nieces is a winter favorite, while in the warmer months she likes hiking, kayaking and camping with friends. Board game gatherings are a year-round staple.

“Melanie is vibrant, positive, and all things good,” said her friend Nicole Traylor. “…Watching her face this health crisis through the past few years has been heartbreaking, and while we knew this day would come, actually being here is overwhelming.”

Melanie is working with the University of Rochester Medical Center’s transplant team. Anyone interested in becoming a living donor can call URMC at 585-275-7753 with her name (Melanie Marie Anderson) and date of birth (10/25/1989) for a seven-minute prescreening. More information on the URMC program, including a downloadable living kidney donor handbook, is online at https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/transplant/live-donor.

Dealing with the loss of kidney function is difficult and frightening. Melanie is candid about her worries: “I cried during the dialysis lesson, as I was 32, and I became very anxious after meeting the vascular doctor about my fistula earlier this year. I find myself some days/nights, experiencing panic attacks at the thought of dying at a young age. Fearing the thought of not feeling earthly elements, a hug, or kisses from my two-year-old old pup.”

Cooking and baking for others has often brought Melanie joy, and she tries to turn negatives into positives. Since her diagnosis, Melanie has researched the connections between cuisine and wellness. “Learning about the health benefits of food has broadened my cooking concoctions and creating delicious dishes to share with family and friends,” she said. “Hosting and attending potlucks bring me so much joy, as my love language is gift giving!”

“Please keep Melanie in your thoughts and prayers,” said her aunt, Jennifer Peresie. “Your encouragement and hope mean the world to her and to our family during this difficult time.

This journey is overwhelming, but our faith in finding a donor is strong.”

Asked what she hopes to do after a transplant, Melanie said, “I want to adopt lots of animals, have a homestead, design and build my own house, get married, volunteer teaching, spread awareness about CKD, plant a tree to honor my late-father and dedicate something spectacular for him, watch my nieces grow up and mature, see my friends become parents. The list could go on.”