How living donors help patients like Mark Thiel fight polycystic disease

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) - Roughly 13 people die each die while waiting for a kidney donation match. And there are currently more than 100,000 people across the United States waiting for a match on the kidney donation list.

Living organ donors can make a life changing difference and give those in need a chance to get the transplant they need to live.

One of these people searching for a Kidney match is Mark Thiel, who's family has a a genetic kidney disease called Polycystic Disease.

"My dad had it, my brother had it," Mark said. "My dad's mother died of it. Almost all of her aunts and uncles all died before the age of 60 from it. And thankfully, you know, kidney transplants came along in time to save my dad and save both my aunts and save my brother. Unfortunately, my grandmother was too early, and she died at 53."

The National Institute of Health says Polycystic Kidney Disease is a genetic condition that causes fluid-filled cysts to grow in the kidneys. Overtime, those cysts can make the kidneys much larger, reduce their function, and even lead to kidney failure.

"He has one cyst on his kidney that's the size of a regular kidney," Shannon Thiel, Mark's wife, said "They say I think his are about 10 pounds each."

Mark's dad and brother received their kidneys from living donors. Living donors are able to donate a kidney or a portion of their liver to a person in need. To become a living donor there are some tests you must undergo to ensure you would be healthy enough to donate.

A kidney from a living donor tends to have a longer life span. The National Institute of Health found, on average, a living donation could last 5-10 years longer than a deceased donation. And Mark's father was able to live for 27 years on his donated kidney.

For the Thiel family, a donation or simply getting tested, could mean more time to spend together. And for the thousands of families waiting for their match, it could mean a second chance at life.

"I know it's a big ask," Shannon said. "But if people are just willing to take the first step and get tested, that's huge."

"Even if it doesn't find a match for me just to raise awareness about kidney donation in general, because there's hundreds of thousands of people waiting on kidneys," Mark added.

Here is a link to the University of Utah's kidney donation site. When you sign up for screening, the family asks you mention Mark Thiel in your application.