Holly K. Miyagawa

Kidney recipient

Age 47 – Thousand Oaks, CA

Honored by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Growing up, Holly was an active teen who enjoyed sports and athletics. Diagnosed with kidney problems at the age of 16, she was told that she would eventually need a transplant. While playing volleyball at the age of 29, she started feeling ill and her legs got swollen. Her nephrologist confirmed that her kidneys were failing and she needed dialysis and a kidney transplant. Several of Holly’s family members wanted to help and were tested as potential matches, until Holly’s cousin, Kimi, was a match. Holly had a successful kidney transplant on March 6, 2000 and she now considers that day her second birthday. Holly has a new appreciation for life and Kimi’s gift has given her a purpose in life. Just three months after her transplant, Holly was back on the beach. Since her transplant, Holly has run a marathon, continues to play beach volleyball on the weekends and has competed in the Transplant Games of America and the World Transplant Games.

Holly’s Story

When Holly was 16 years old, she found out that she had abnormal kidneys. It was determined that her kidneys were smaller than normal and only worked at about 50% and that a transplant would be necessary at some point in the future. At the time, she was an active high school student who cared mostly about athletics and her ability to play volleyball and run track.

At age 29, Holly was playing volleyball on the beach with some friends when she felt extremely tired and thought she was just fighting a cold. But as she continued to play, Holly noticed some swelling in her legs. It got so bad that she had to stop and at that point, she knew her kidneys were failing. The nephrologist confirmed that Holly had less than 5% of her kidney function left and she needed a transplant.

Getting sicker and weaker, dialysis was Holly’s only option. As family members got tested as potential matches, Holly began dialysis on December 15, 1999. Holly’s cousin, Darlene, a.k.a. Kimi, stepped up immediately to get tested. Holly had a successful kidney transplant on March 6, 2000 and now considers that day her second birthday.

Holly has a new appreciation for life and Kimi’s gift has given her a purpose in life. Just three months after her transplant, Holly was back on the beach. Since her transplant, Holly has run her first (and last) marathon, she continues to play beach volleyball on the weekends and she has competed in the Transplant Games of America and the World Transplant Games.

Holly works as the Director of Lease Administration for Skechers, U.S.A., Inc in Manhattan Beach and she resides in Hermosa Beach. Holly is surrounded by friends and family, who she credits for helping her through her transplant experience. Holly says, “it’s nice that my friends ‘forget’ about my transplant. To me, it shows how far I’ve come and what I’ve accomplished.”