DOVE Transplant - Living Kidney Donation for Veterans

11/04/2026

As part of November's Veteran and Military Family Appreciation month, we are posting each day the story of a Veteran waiting for a kidney transplant.

The wait for a deceased donor in the US is several years.

Many will not survive the wait. Living donors enable a recipient to avoid this long wait and has the best outcomes.

Please take the time to read Kari's story. Let her know she is not alone in her wait by sharing her profile or contacting us to learn how you can help. [email protected]

“I enlisted in the United States Army on active duty in August 1989 and retired as a Staff Sergeant after 23 years of service in February 2011. One of the things I enjoyed most about my military career was meeting people from all over the United States and around the world. I loved experiencing different cultures and learning from the people I met along the way. My military service gave me the opportunity to see places and experience things I never would have otherwise.

While I was still on active duty, I was diagnosed with a kidney disease called urinary reflux in April 2010. My kidney disease eventually progressed to the point where I needed dialysis, and I began peritoneal dialysis in January 2022. Unfortunately, the dialysis fluid began leaking into my right lung, which resulted in a hospitalization. I then had to transition to hemodialysis.

Every day is a blessing from God, and I am grateful for the ability to continue doing the everyday things that so many people take for granted. I have been through a lot, but I believe the future only looks better. I am holding on to hope for a kidney transplant and all the adventures, memories, and possibilities that will come with it.”

11/04/2026

On Tuesday, November 2, 2026 we welcomed a very special addition to the DOVE family: Baby Eleni Maeve Naughton.

Eleni is lucky to have 2 phenomenal humans as her parents. Kayla and Gunnar both served in the military and continue to serve their country and communities through so many endeavors.

Kayla is a nurse and volunteers with international groups to provide healthcare in underserved countries.

Gunnar is an advocate for Veterans and amongst other initiatives volunteers with Sheepdog Impact Assistance and was a key team member on the U.S. Armed Forces Transplant Team And he is also a dual living organ donor. DOVE Team 47!

Sending our love and very best to this beautiful family.

DOVE baby merch is on the way...
Gunnar Naughton

11/03/2026

Ronnie Williams proudly served in the United States Marine Corps. During his military career, he worked as both a 1371 Combat Engineer and a 3041 Supply Administration Marine. He found both positions to be rewarding and was proud to serve his fellow Marines in meaningful ways.

After leaving the Marine Corps, Ronnie worked in janitorial maintenance and assisted with asbestos and lead paint removal from schools and other buildings. Later, he discovered a passion for cooking. Eventually returning to Jacksonville, North Carolina, where he cooked for fellow Marines at the Marine Corps Air Station.

Today, Ronnie attends Community College, where he is studying social work. His goal is to help young men between the ages of 13 and 21 navigate life’s challenges, develop confidence, and build successful futures.

Ronnie's service has never ended. Despite suffering from chronic and debilitating kidney disease, he continues to give back to Veterans, youth, and his community as a Volunteer.

Ronnie is one of the 360 Veterans working with DOVE in hopes of finding their living donor hero.

If you would like to support Ronnie in anyway as a potential donor, or a champion/supporter please reach out to us. You can follow the QR link to learn more or Email [email protected]



For the first 2 weeks in November - DOVE is running Operation Save a Kidney Warrior Campaign. We are nearing our 100th DOVE transplant and all financial donations go towards strengthening our services and assisting more Veterans and their donors. Please see link:

https://dovetransplant.app.neoncrm.com/campaigns/OperationSaveAKidneyWarrior

11/02/2026

Every day throughout the month of November which is National Veterans and Military Family Appreciation month, we will be highlighting the stories of Veterans who are waiting at this moment for a lifesaving kidney transplant.

If they do not find a living kidney donor, they will wait years on a the national list for a deceased donor.

Many will not survive that wait.

Living kidney donation requires extensive medical testing to ensure those who donate can live completely normal lives with one kidney.

The testing is covered by the transplant centers and nonmedical costs are covered by many organizations (including DOVE) to ensure donation is financially neutral.

Medically cleared donors can save a life gifting a kidney and live a full and normal life with the remaining kidney

What could be more meaningful?

Reach out to DOVE if you are curious about donation and would like to know more! Info@dovetransplant or follow the links

11/01/2026

November is National Veteran and Military Appreciation month.

Every day we will highlight one of the hundreds of Veterans registered with DOVE, coping with chronic and debilitating kidney disease, and hoping to find a living kidney donor which gives them the best chance of living a full and long life.

RJ Brent Levesque served over 8 years as a Submarine Sonorman during the Cold War and the First Gulf War. He was medically discharged from Submarine service when he was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Because PKD is genetic many family members could have the disease or are considered too high risk to become living donors.

RJ lives on the mid coast of Maine. However, his transplant center participates with the National Kidney Registry - which means you can donate near your home anywhere across the US. DOVE also has resources to cover travel and lodging.

Please reach out if you are interested in becoming a living donor or helping RJ in his search. We know his donor is waiting out there and waiting to see this post!

11/01/2026

Save a Kidney Warrior Campaign

Email from DOVE Transplant Support Our Operation Save a Kidney Warrior Campaign November 1 - November 14 2026 DOVE is nearing a very special milestone: 100 living kidney donor transplants for Veterans

10/29/2026

We are so excited to finally announce that DOVE is one of the 2026 Fisher Service Award Recipients!!!

In addition to the generous $75,000 grant, we are so thrilled to be affiliated with such a high caliber and respected organization and to be a part of their community.

Over the years, DOVE's donors and recipients have benefitted from many Fisher House programs. Flights for kidney donors have been covered by their Hero Miles programs. Many of our donors and recipients have stayed at Fisher Homes located near VA and military hospitals. Many Veterans and prospective kidney donors learned of DOVE through the full page advertising space gifted to us every month through Sightline Media Group/Military Times.

This award strengthens our collaboration that much more.

We are honored to receive this recognition along with the other non-profits that are making a huge impact on the lives of Veterans! Congrats to all!

Fisher House Foundation Bridge to Mobility Boot Campaign Operation Foster Veteran Business Project

10/21/2026

https://dovetransplant.org/phillip-chang/
Phil Chang joined the Marines in 2003. He was deployed a short time after boot camp to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. He was honorably discharged after 4 years of service.

Phil is a single dad of 3 children. Despite relying on hemodialysis treatments, he works up to 50 hours a week to support his family. His kidney disease and treatment is making it very difficult for him to keep up with demands of parenting and work.

We must help Phil get his life and his health back! The best chance is to find a living kidney donor for him.

Please reach out to us at DOVE to learn about kidney donation. Healthy people who are medically cleared live completely normal lives with one kidney and can save another's life with their "spare" kidney. We are here to support prospective donors throughout the journey and ensure you have the information, support, resources you need should you decide to move forward.

Please share this page. We know Phil's donor is out there and waiting for this sign. Be Phil's lifesaving kidney donor. For Phil. For his family.

[email protected] OR 551-233-1611 OR complete the donor inquiry tab on the page.

THANK YOU!!!!

My name is Phillip, and I joined the Marine Corps a few months after graduating from high school in June 2003. I shipped out from Oklahoma and was stationed at Camp Pendleton, California, with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, for four years. During my time in the Marines, I served as a Mortarman in the i...

10/17/2026

Many of DOVE's living kidney donors and recipients have not yet met. Team #68 Recipient, Michael, knew his donor was willing to meet but for a while he didn't know how to thank her and he felt overwhelmed. But at his one year anniversary, he was ready.
Together, with the DOVE team, he surprised Diana by joining our annual follow up video call.

There were tears of joy and some good laughs. Diana was happy to learn where her kidneys new home was. Michael said: "This experience made me really see and know all the good in the world."
Wishing Diana and Michael the very best and thanks for letting DOVE come along for this special meeting.
We are grateful to all organ donors for their kindness and generosity and grateful to the Veterans who have trusted us to support them thru this journey.

10/17/2026

Alabama native Ronnie Kirk joined the US Army when he was 17 years old. He retired after 22 years of military service.

Ronnie is one of the over 360 Veterans who have enlisted DOVE to assist in their search for a lifesaving living kidney donor. Most Veterans have reached out to us after exhausting all of their options within their immediate families.

Asking someone to donate an organ is the most difficult ask for anyone. But especially for Veterans like Ronnie, who are more accustomed to serving others.

Please share Ronnie's story throughout your communities. We know someone is out there who will feel this is their calling to reach out and learn if they can be his hero.
We welcome anyone to reach out and learn about kidney donation. 551-449-8319 or [email protected] OR click the links in Ronnie's profile.

Thank you!

Ronnie Kirk is seeking a living kidney donor. Paired exchange may allow you to help even if you�re not a direct match. Confidential screening takes only a few minutes.