Jessica Jurado spent many years watching her mother suffer from chronic kidney disease. At age 20, she tried to donate but did not biologically match her mother. A nurse referred her to the paired exchange program, and the search for her mother's kidney donor began immediately. Two months later, Jessica donated her kidney to JePahl White, and her mother received a new kidney the next day. Jessica has since run many marathons and lives a full life. "This experience has changed my life completely," she said. "I have a healthy mother who is stronger and better because of this program. I'm eternally grateful."

Jessica's Story

Jessica Jurado spent many years watching her mother suffer from chronic kidney disease. When she was 20, she tried donating her kidney but found she was not a match. "This devastating news made me feel hopeless as my mom grew weaker," she recalled.

By chance, a nurse mentioned the paired exchange program to Jessica after hearing of her inability to donate directly. She referred Jessica to the UC Davis Paired Exchange program which would allow her to donate her kidney to someone who, like Jessica's mom, had a willing but incompatible donor. Jessica's mother would in turn receive a kidney from a donor who, like Jessica, was incompatible with their desired recipient.

Jessica immediately went online and completed the forms. A program coordinator contacted her 24 hours later, and the search for her mother's new kidney began. In the meantime, Jessica underwent an extensive battery of tests to make sure she could participate in the program.

Two months after the search began, the program coordinator called Jessica with good news: a kidney donor had been matched to her mother, and a patient who would receive Jessica's kidney was also identified. On September 27, 2010, Jessica donated her kidney to JePahl White, who will ride on the 2014 Donate Life float in eyesight of his donor. Jessica's mother received her kidney the following day from Meghan Talt.

"I met JePahl two months after surgery and have had a wonderful friendship with him and his family," Jessica acknowledged. "It truly brings people together."

After donating her kidney, Jessica successfully finished a number of half-marathons, two Tough Mudders, and the California International Marathon. "My donation experience has not slowed me down," she said. "I am a living testament that you can live a normal life after donating a kidney."

"This experience has changed my life completely. I have a healthy mother who is stronger and better because of this program. I'm eternally grateful."