Since age five, Valen Cover has battled and triumphed over seizures, scoliosis surgery and pancreatitis. At age 10, she was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD); at 19, she spent 11 months in the hospital when both kidneys were removed. After undergoing dialysis and more than 70 blood transfusions, Valen “won the war" when Sally Robertson gave her a kidney on August 13, 2002. After her transplant, Valen developed a passion to raise awareness of PKD and organ donation. “I’m grateful for every new day with my ‘gift.’"

Valen's Story

Since the age of five, Valen Cover has battled and triumphed over seizures, scoliosis surgery and pancreatitis. At age 10, she was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD); at 19, she spent 11 months in the hospital when both kidneys were removed. She underwent dialysis and had more than 70 blood transfusions.

“I won the war the day Sally Robertson (above) gave me one of her kidneys on August 13, 2002,” said Valen, now 27. “Over 40 inches of scars on my body prove that the scars from our past are the lifelines to our future.

“Transplantation has a life-changing, domino effect on so many people, besides the recipient. I love my transplanted kidney because it has given me life and the opportunity to help others improve their lives. In 2008, my biography, ‘My Favorite American,’ was published. It’s opened doors and enabled me to help educate the world about PKD and organ transplantation.”

After her transplant, Valen developed a passion to raise awareness of PKD and organ donation. In 2004, she founded the South Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the PKD Foundation. In addition to working full-time, she held monthly meetings, organized annual fundraising walks, educational seminars, spoke at PKD Conventions, raised funds to support PKD research, and helped raise awareness on the local, state, and federal levels.

As an avid public speaker, her life mission is to educate and to inspire, one speaking engagement at a time. She has shared her message of hope at over 70 events and to more than 5,000 people from Toronto to Texas and Pennsylvania to California.

“My kidney has taught me many valuable lessons, including to follow your dreams,” Valen said. “This year, my boyfriend and I embarked on a cross-country adventure by moving to California. In four weeks, we drove 6,300 miles and visited national parks, historical sites, large cities, and quaint towns. I’ll always treasure these memories because illness in my youth prevented me from travel. For me, this move is a powerful statement that one can live a fulfilling life, post-transplant, and with an incurable disease like PKD.”

Valen emphasized that “I can’t think of a single way my life has NOT been changed by transplantation! I wake up every morning knowing that each new day is a gift, thanks to the miracle of transplantation. My ‘gift’ has taught me: Embrace life. Anything is possible. Believe in yourself. Never lose hope. Be the change you wish to see in the world.

“I’m grateful for every new day with my ‘gift,’ and hope that ‘she’ will be with me for a long time, helping me spread hope and inspiration.”