MEET JACOB
UTTER
Years Fighting
Kidney Disease
Jacob is 15 years old and living with a rare kidney disease. Eight years ago, what started as the flu quickly turned into a life-threatening emergency. Jacob was airlifted by Life Flight to the ICU in complete kidney failure.
During his hospitalization, he underwent dialysis and continued treatments for six months before his kidneys recovered enough to rebound to Stage 4 kidney disease.
Since then, every illness, infection, and fever has become a battle. One major shock to Jacob's immune system could send him back into kidney failure again. Our family has spent the last several years doing everything possible to keep Jacob healthy and strong enough to qualify for a kidney transplant — because a transplant is truly his best hope for a healthy future.
For many people, the wait for a kidney can take years. A living donor could give Jacob a fighting chance at life and potentially allow him to avoid another transplant for many years, if not forever.
Despite everything he faces, Jacob remains one of the most loving and resilient kids you could ever meet. He greets every challenge with a smile, an open heart, and strength beyond his years. He deserves the chance to experience a normal childhood and a future filled with hope.
"He greets every challenge with a smile, an open heart, and strength beyond his years."
