04/09/2026
Five Kidneys. Three Children. The Wingett Family Story of Love. ❤️
In 1987, our world changed overnight. Four of our six children were diagnosed with Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD). Doctors told us the outlook was grim—that before they turned 10, they would likely need dialysis or kidney transplants.
As parents, it was devastating news. But what followed over the next three decades would show us the incredible power of love, family, and the generosity of others. In 2004, our youngest daughter received her first kidney transplant at just 16 years old. Her big brother, only 23 at the time, stepped forward to donate. That experience changed his life—he later became a paramedic firefighter, dedicating his career to helping others in need. In 2012, another daughter went into kidney failure shortly after giving birth to her first child. A friend of our youngest daughter volunteered to be her donor—an act of kindness from someone not related, but forever part of our family story. Years later, when that kidney began to fail, she received another lifesaving gift—this time from a deceased organ donor. We will always be grateful to the family who chose generosity in the midst of their grief. Meanwhile, our youngest daughter’s kidney from her brother lasted more than 15 years. When she needed another transplant in 2019, her brother-in-law offered to donate. At the last moment they were no longer a match, but he refused to give up. Instead, he donated his kidney to a stranger—hoping that someone else would do the same for her and it worked. In March 2021, she received a kidney from a living donor in Minnesota, someone we had never met but will forever carry in our hearts. Six months later, our family experienced yet another miracle—our fifth kidney transplant. Five transplants. Three children. Countless acts of courage, sacrifice, and compassion. Our family’s story is proof that organ donation saves lives—and sometimes it saves them again and again. We are forever grateful to every donor, every family, every doctor, and every person who made these miracles possible. 💚
Register to be an organ donor. You could be someone’s miracle.
