Wendi & Friends Thank You
Gracias por estar aquí.
Hoy por ti, mañana por mí.
Save Wendi's Life
Living Kidney Donor Needed
Please Save My Sister
Please Save My Daughter
Please Save My Friend
Testimonial from Mom
Wendi is the kind of person who keeps other people moving forward. Even now, while facing kidney disease, she still shows the same resilience, humor, and love that have always defined her.
Hi. I'm Wendi.
My name is Wendi Williams. I’m an independent woman, a daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, neighbor, and volunteer. I grew up in Tahoe City, California, and now live in Chicago, where I built a life around the people and things I love most: family, friends, old movies, books, theater, art, architecture, museums, traveling, exploring the city, and finding joy in ordinary moments.
The people who know me best would tell you I am loyal, dependable, funny, helpful, and the kind of person who shows up. I have always tried to be there for the people around me, not just in big moments, but in the quiet, everyday ways that make life feel less lonely and more human. One friend described me as “fiercely loyal,” someone who makes people feel cared for in thoughtful and personal ways. Another said I would give someone “the shirt off my back.” Those words mean a lot to me, because helping people has never felt optional. It has simply always been part of who I am.
My mother describes me as her traveling companion, her caregiver, and the person who gets her back out into the world when life gets heavy. She says I take her on drives to see the spring and fall colors, holiday decorations, farmers markets, art fairs, and all the little things that make life feel alive again. She also says I have taken on projects in my residential community that no one else would, just to create happiness and positive experiences for my neighbors. That, too, feels true to me. I care deeply about people, and I have always tried to make life a little better where I can.
I love humor and laughter. I love a good conversation. I love movies, especially the details that make them memorable. I love the people in my life and the chance to keep making memories with them. I still have so much life I want to live, so much love I want to give, and so many moments I want to share.
Right now, I am asking for help because I need a living kidney donor. That is not an easy thing to say. But I also know that a donor can come from anywhere, and that sometimes the right person starts as someone who is simply willing to learn more. If you are here, thank you for reading my story. Thank you for taking the time to see me as a person, not just a patient.
A kidney transplant would give me the chance to keep being who I am — to stay present for the people I love, to keep building a life in motion, and to have the future that kidney disease is trying to take away. If you are willing to consider becoming a donor, or even sharing my story, you could help change everything.
Testimonial from Lara - Long-time friend
Wendi is fiercely loyal, deeply thoughtful, and the kind of friend who goes far beyond what anyone expects. She has a way of making people feel truly cared for.
Donors' Top 4 Questions
What are the real risks of donating a kidney? Will this shorten my life?
Kidney donation is major surgery and, like any surgery, the risk isn't zero. However, based on the latest research, the risk is in the range of a tonsillectomy or appendectomy. For the latest research, see Q&A under Donor Protect 360.
How can I survive with one kidney?
Our kidneys are the ONLY organ in the human body with a built-in spare. After donation, your remaining kidney grows up to 20% and takes over the job of two.
What if something happens to my remaining kidney after donation?
Northwestern Medicine partners with the National Kidney Registry or Alliance for Paired Kidney Donation. Both partners provide a "lifetime safety net" so, in the rare case something happens to your kidney, you are prioritized for a new living kidney.
I can't afford medical costs, "time off" from work and the out-of-pocket expenses.
First, your medical expenses are covered by the patient's insurance. Second, the donation process is designed to be "cost neutral." That means you are reimbursed for lost wages and expenses through your transplant hospital's partnership with the National Kidney Registry or Alliance for Paired Kidney Donation.
Watch why donation really matters
Anyone Can Be A Living Kidney Donor
Testimonial from Kimberly - Lifelong Friend
Wendi has been a constant source of friendship, laughter, and love for decades. Her determination through this difficult process has only made clearer what those of us who love her already know: she is a bright, irreplaceable presence in this world.
Have You Ever Watched a MIRACLE Happen Before? See the joy between a donor, a mom, and a daughter
Testimonial from Joe - Friend & Neighbor
Wendi has the rare kind of kindness that makes people feel welcomed, supported, and at home. When I first learned about her kidney disease, my immediate thought was whether I could donate, because I know she would do anything she could to help someone else
Testimonial from Carol - Board Member, Organ Transplant Support
What stands out about Wendi is not just that she needs a transplant, but that she still chooses to give her time and talent to help others facing the same kind of struggle. She is skilled, generous, positive, and deeply committed — exactly the kind of person you want to see get her second chance.
Useful Facts
As of April, 2026, about 103,000 people in the U.S. are on the national organ transplant waiting list, and about 85% are waiting for a kidney. Source: OrganDonor.gov
Average wait time for a deceased-donor kidney is 3–5 years or more depending on blood type and location. Source: Kidney.org
Kidneys from living donors typically last longer and work better than kidneys from deceased donors. Source: Kidney.org