Help Brooke
Sunrise over the Huntington Beach pier with sunflowers in the foreground

Brooke's Kidney Journey · Huntington Beach, CA

Help Brooke find a kidney — and write the next happy chapter.

I live with chronic kidney disease, and a living donor could give me my life back. Learn how directed kidney donation works and how you can help — whether that's getting tested, donating or sharing my story.

See if you can donateLearn about donation
1
kidney is all a healthy donor needs
Free
testing for donors
You
could be my match
Brooke smiling in front of a sunflower wreathBrooke celebrating with her family

Meet Brooke

Hi, I'm Brooke — and I'm looking for a hero.

My story

I'm a Huntington Beach friend, family member and optimist living with chronic kidney disease. My kidneys are slowly losing their ability to do their job, and the best treatment is a transplant from a living donor.

Waiting for a deceased-donor kidney can take years. A directed living donation — where someone chooses to donate to me by name — can shorten that wait dramatically and usually works better and lasts longer.

I made this site to share honest, hopeful information about kidney donation. Even if you can't donate, simply sharing my story helps me reach the person who can.

What a kidney would mean

Your gift would give me so much more life.

More good days

Freedom from the exhaustion of failing kidneys and long treatments.

Time with family

Birthdays, celebrations and ordinary Tuesdays with the people I love.

Paying it forward

Sharing what I've learned so more people understand living donation.

A fresh start

One generous person can turn a long wait into a brand-new beginning.

Kidney donation 101

Why living donation changes everything.

A directed donation means you choose who receives your kidney. It's one of the most generous things a person can do — and it's safer and simpler than most people think.

  • Healthy people can live full, active lives with one kidney.
  • Living-donor kidneys typically work sooner and last longer than deceased-donor kidneys.
  • Donor evaluation and surgery costs are generally covered by the recipient's insurance.
  • You can donate directly to me, or through a paired exchange if we aren't a match.

The donation process

  1. 01

    Start online

    Fill out the confidential health questionnaire with the National Kidney Registry and name me as your recipient.

  2. 02

    Get tested

    If you qualify, you'll get blood and urine tests — often from home or a local lab — at no cost to you.

  3. 03

    Full evaluation

    A transplant center checks your health thoroughly. Your own donor team looks out only for you.

  4. 04

    Surgery & recovery

    Most donors have a minimally invasive procedure, leave the hospital in a few days and return to normal life within weeks.

General information only — your transplant team will guide you through every detail.

Ways to help

Every share brings me closer to a match.

You don't have to donate a kidney to make a difference. Pick whatever feels right for you.

Get tested to donate

Take the free National Kidney Registry questionnaire and name Brooke Stephens as your recipient.

Am I qualified?

Give to my GoFundMe

Help cover travel, medical and recovery costs for me and my future donor.

Link coming soon

Share my flyer

Print my one-page story and post it at work, church, the gym or your favorite coffee shop.

Get the flyer

Follow my journey

Updates, milestones and lots of gratitude — share my posts to reach more people.

Link coming soon

National Kidney Registry

Scan to see if you can donate

It takes a few minutes, it's confidential and there's no commitment. Be sure to name Brooke Stephens as your intended recipient.

Start the questionnaire

Printable flyer

Spread the word, one page at a time.

Print this flyer and share it anywhere people gather. The QR code takes them straight to the donor questionnaire.

Please share

Help Brooke find a kidney

Brooke lives with chronic kidney disease and needs a kidney transplant. A living donor could give her a healthy future with her family. You could be the one.

  • ✔ Testing is free for donors
  • ✔ Healthy people live full lives with one kidney
  • ✔ Not a match? Paired exchange can still help
Brooke Stephens

Scan to see if you can donate — name Brooke Stephens as your recipient.

(714) 350-0541

stephens_brooke@hotmail.com

Huntington Beach, California

Questions & answers

Curious? That's great.

Here are the questions people ask me most. Have another? Reach out anytime.

Who can be a living kidney donor?

Most donors are adults in good overall health. The National Kidney Registry questionnaire is the easiest first step — it tells you quickly whether to move forward.

Do I need to be the same blood type as Brooke?

Not necessarily. If you aren't a direct match, a paired exchange lets you donate to someone else while Brooke receives a compatible kidney from another donor.

Will it cost me anything?

Donor testing, evaluation and surgery are generally covered by the recipient's insurance. Programs like the NKR also offer protections that may help with lost wages and travel.

How long is recovery?

Most donors spend a few days in the hospital and get back to everyday activities within a few weeks. Your transplant team will give you a plan made for you.

Can I change my mind?

Yes — at any time, for any reason, and your decision stays confidential. There is no pressure, ever.

I can't donate. How else can I help?

Share this website, print the flyer, give to the GoFundMe once it's live, and follow along. Every share reaches someone new.

Contact

I'd love to hear from you.

Thinking about donating, have a question, or just want to send some encouragement? Every message means the world to me.

stephens_brooke@hotmail.com(714) 350-0541

Huntington Beach, California