Ben Howell, a father of three, a devoted husband for over 50 years, grandfather of two granddaughters, and most recently of a one-year-old grandson, is fighting for his life.
He’s seeking a live kidney donor for his O blood type. Unfortunately, none of his family members have a matching blood type. However, his 32-year-old son, Blake, is willing to donate his kidney to a donor exchange program that will save someone else’s life and provide a compatible donor for his father.
Ben was diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure last year, a condition that has forced him into a gruelling daily dialysis routine. Dialysis is lifesaving for people with kidney failure, but no substitute for the real thing.
Ben has reached the point where even on dialysis, it is becoming increasingly more difficult to control his blood pressure, even with all his medicine. The kidneys help regulate blood pressure, so this can be a side effect of kidney failure.
The best scenario (and quite possibly the life-saving option for him) would be to receive a kidney from a living donor. This can come from a family member, friend, or stranger-anyone who’s healthy and willing.
He has received offers from both family and friends, but so far, none have been compatible or approved for donation. Though the treatments leave him weak and exhausted, he remains hopeful, buoyed by the unwavering love of his family.
Despite the setbacks, Ben tries to maintain a positive outlook and continues to be a source of strength and encouragement to those around him. His determination to live isn’t just for himself—it’s for his wife, his children, grandchildren, especially his grandson, whom he hopes to see grow up.
Blake, Ben’s only son, has taken an active role in finding a solution. After learning he wasn’t a direct match, Blake immediately volunteered for a donor exchange program called National Kidney Registry (NKR). In these types of programs, living donors give a kidney to a stranger in need, and in return, their loved one receives a compatible kidney from another donor in the chain. It’s a powerful act of sacrifice and strategy, offering hope to multiple families at once.
The Howell family is now working closely with the University of Chicago Medical Centre to complete the required evaluations and screenings. The hope is that Blake’s donation will initiate a chain reaction, connecting donors and recipients nationwide and ultimately bringing a compatible kidney to Ben.
In the meantime, the family is also spreading awareness about the importance of live kidney donation, especially within the African American community, which faces a disproportionate burden of kidney disease and lower donor rates.
