Editor's Note: This article was originally published for National Kidney Month in March 2023, and was revised on July 30, 2025 to share exciting updates about each of the article's subjects.
Every March, the National Kidney Foundation commemorates National Kidney Month, bringing awareness to kidney health and encouraging those who can donate to consider. But the cause is year-round, as the need for kidney donors is more important than ever. According to the National Kidney Registry, over 100,000 people are in need of a kidney transplant each year, but only about 6,000 people become living kidney donors each year.
Living kidney donors can be family members, friends or even strangers to the individual in need. Donating a kidney is a life-improving, and sometimes life-saving, gift.
The need is felt within the Recording Academy family, as two of its staff members, Chantel Sausedo and Jason Gino, were in search of a living kidney donor. As of April 1, both received life-changing transplants. Below, read both of their stories, and find out more about how you could change a life by donating a kidney.
Chantel Saucedo | Courtesy of Chantel Saucedo
Chantel Sausedo is the Recording Academy's Vice President of Artist Relations. Previously, she had worked as a producer on the telecast for 10 years, and has since played a crucial role in creating the GRAMMY system of artist communications. The mission to serve artists and their needs is what inspires Chantel the most about working at the Academy.
Chantel has suffered from Lupus Nephritis, a degenerative and incurable kidney disease, since 1999. When she was first diagnosed, it was thought that she would need a kidney transplant. She immediately went into treatment, including high dose steroids and chemotherapy. The treatments worked and Chantel rallied several times, her doctors affectionately calling her "The Machine."
Though she had very limited biological options in her search for a donor, Chantel's journey reached a happy conclusion this past spring. After an extensive search, hundreds of volunteers, 47 screenings and one living donor, Chantel got her transplant on April 1. She credits her living donor, KM, who gave a piece of his body so she could live; her sister who was by her side every step of the way; and her son for being the best medicine of all.
She also notes the incredible support of the Recording Academy and MusiCares. She specifically wants to shout out the RA's Chief Operating Officer and Head of Entertainment, Branden Chapman, who supported her throughout the process both personally and professionally. She thanks everyone at MusiCares who provided much needed comfort during the roughest patches, and Artist Relations Director Lindsay Saunders Carl who stepped in and kept the Artist Relations bus rolling during the GRAMMY season.
She is also grateful to the many friends, artists and colleagues who sent flowers that brightened her days, more food than she could eat, and all the sweets she could.
Jason Gino | Courtesy of Jason Gino
Jason Gino is the Director of Product Management on the Recording Academy's Digital Media team. He has been a key member of the digital media team since its inception over eight years ago. The ability to help people, whether it is professional or personal, is what inspires Jason the most about working at the Academy.
Jason suffers from End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) brought upon by diabetes. ESRD is a medical condition that ceases kidney function permanently. To maintain his life, he needed to commit five hours, three times a week to receive dialysis treatments. Jason's immediate family was medically disqualified to donate on his behalf due to pre-existing conditions.
Like Chantel, Jason had a breakthrough in his story last year. In April 2024, he received a directed kidney donation through a referral from his childhood friend Arfi. Jason's transplant came from a woman named Pinky, who had chosen to be an organ donor before her passing.
While his recovery hasn't been easy, Jason insists that "every day has been a gift" since receiving Pinky's kidney. Reflecting on his life-saving transplant, Jason shares a message of gratitude to Pinky's son Greg, who made it all possible: "Your courage in honoring Pinky's wishes saved my life. And not just mine. She saved three lives that day, and countless others, through her ripple effect. You gave me a second chance to be a father, a brother, an uncle, a friend."
He adds a note to anyone considering becoming an organ donor: "Please, do it. There are thousands of people like me waiting. Some won't live long enough to get the call. But you could be someone's miracle."
To support other patients in need of a transplant, register to be screened to become a kidney donor with the National Kidney Registry here.
Why Donate?
You only need one functioning kidney to live.
Many people live happy and healthy lives with just one kidney. Life expectancy is not changed, and your ability to exercise and perform physical activities is not affected, though it is important to protect the kidneys you have from potential injury.
Potential living kidney donors often worry about needing a kidney after donating one of their own. The evaluation process is built to identify pre-existing conditions and other factors that may put you at a higher risk of developing kidney disease. These factors are considered greatly before an individual is cleared to donate. If a living donor does become in need of a kidney, and they donated at a transplant center that partners with the National Kidney Registry, they will be given priority for a living donor kidney themselves.
Comprehensive health test screenings, surgery and hospitalization are covered by the kidney recipient's insurance.
Before becoming a living donor, an evaluation process determines if you are healthy enough to donate a kidney. In order to protect potential donors, the evaluation process identifies any specific risks to you as an individual. During the evaluation, you will be asked to complete a financial consultation, a psychological evaluation, and extensive medical tests.
The financial consultation is meant to prepare you for any costs associated with becoming a living donor. Generally, when donating to someone you know, their insurance will pay for any testing, surgery and hospitalization. Living donors may be responsible for their travel expenses, lost wages during the surgery and recovery period, and follow-up care.
The psychological evaluation is meant to ensure that each donor fully understands the donation process and is in good mental health. This step of the evaluation process will prepare you to make the most informed decision on becoming a living donor. It is important for the transplant team to confirm that the potential donor is facing no pressure from friends or family to donate.
Physical exams, chest x-rays, electrocardiograms (EKG), radiological testing, urine testing, gynecological examinations, mammograms, and cancer screenings are just some of the potential medical tests needed during the evaluation process. You will also be asked to provide a thorough medical history of past illnesses, surgeries and treatments.
Compatibility tests will also be required during the evaluation. Blood tests and tissue typing will check the compatibility between you and any potential recipient. If you are donating to a specific individual but your kidney is not compatible, many transplant centers are able to help you coordinate a Paired Exchange. A Paired Exchange matches two recipients and two living donors for a "swap." Each living donor would donate to the other's intended recipient.
Living donor assistance is available.
Donating through the National Kidney Registry, or donating at a Donor Shield Direct transplant center, qualifies you for living donor assistance through Donor Shield. Donor Shield offers lost wage reimbursement (up to $2,000 per week for up to 6 weeks) for donation-related time off work, travel and lodging expenses. The latter covers up to $5,000 for donor and a caregiver for donation-related travel costs, kidney prioritization (in the unlikely event you ever need a kidney yourself), remote donation, assistance from donor mentors, legal support to help fight unlawful employment termination and insurance discrimination, complications protections for costs related to donation, home blood draws to eliminate trips to the transplant center, and more, including the National Kidney Registry's Voucher Program.
The Standard Voucher Program allows living donors to donate their kidney on their own timeline on behalf of someone that they know who is in need. The family member or friend in need of a kidney would receive a voucher that can be redeemed to gain priority for a living kidney donor's kidney through the National Kidney Registry.
The donor can also name five family members as back-ups to receive a voucher if the current voucher holder were to receive a deceased donor transplant. The voucher program also allows for the best possible match through the National Kidney Registry's Kidney for Life initiative which increases the odds of a better match. A better match leads to a transplanted kidney that will last longer for the recipient.
The Family Voucher Program allows living donors to donate and gain up to five vouchers for family members who are not yet in imminent need of a transplant. Only one of the vouchers is able to be redeemed. The donor would be donating their kidney to start a chain or donating to someone from the deceased donor waitlist.
The Family Voucher Program allows you to look out for your family, in case one of them becomes in need of a kidney in the future. In the event that they do end up in need, they will be prioritized for a living donor's kidney through the National Kidney Registry.
There is an opportunity to save more than one life by becoming a living donor.
Kidney donation chains can be started by non-directed donors, also known as Good Samaritan donors. A non-directed donor is a donor without an intended kidney recipient.
The National Kidney Registry facilitates kidney donation chains by finding a kidney recipient who is the best possible match for a non-directed donor's kidney. The donor that wanted to donate their kidney on behalf of that first recipient can then be matched with another kidney recipient, and the chain continues for as long as there are donor-recipient matches.
The longest kidney donation chain to date started with a Good Samaritan donor and resulted in 35 kidney transplants.