Real Patients, Real Stories – Hear from an Emory Kidney Transplant Patient

By: Emory Transplant Center
Date: Nov 18, 2017

About Devin Gerald, a kidney transplant patient with the Emory Kidney Transplant Program, describes his experience growing up with kidney disease. Eventually, in his late teens, Devin’s kidneys started to fail, and he found himself facing dialysis. Devin looked for a living kidney donor for transplant and in stepped his aunt – Regina Kinnie. She was healthy enough to donate her kidney to Devin but there was a problem – her blood type didn’t match his. That’s when Devin and Regina learned about something called the Kidney Paired Donor Exchange Program. Hear their story, and how it has changed Devin’s life forever.

Emory Kidney Transplant Program

The Emory Kidney Transplant Program ranks as one of the most prestigious transplant programs in the country. Emory’s team of specialists are highly skilled in the care of kidney transplant patients and living donors. We will work with you every step of the way in your transplant journey.

Experience: Emory performed Georgia’s first kidney transplant in 1966 and has performed more than 5,000 kidney transplants to date – making us a top 10 leading national program.

Commitment to Transplant Research: Emory is at the forefront of kidney transplant research. Our physicians played a key role in the development of Belatacept, a drug that prevents rejection without some of the toxic side effects associated with previously available immunosuppressive agents.

Living Donor Program and Paired Donor Exchange: We offer a well-established living donor kidney transplant program, having performed more than 1,200 living donor transplants to date. Last year, our Paired Donor Exchange Program was ranked the second-largest paired donor program in the country through the National.

To learn more about the Emory Kidney Transplant Program, visit emoryhealthcare.org/kidneytransplant.

A clearer path to transplant and life beyond

Emory Healthcare is home to one of the nation's largest and most experienced transplant programs, offering patients a clear path to transplant and life beyond. With more than 13,000 transplants performed across all major organ types, patients benefit from timely access to expert care, advanced treatment options and nationally recognized outcomes.

Our multidisciplinary teams provide personalized support every step of the transplant journey, helping more patients move forward with confidence and hope.


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