Fight for a Life-Saving Kidney Transplant
Ben Howell, an African American 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 grueling 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.
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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 Center 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.
Friends, neighbors, and community members have rallied around the Howells, offering support and helping to amplify their story. They’ve launched a donor outreach page, urging potential donors to get tested. “It just takes one person,” Blake says. “One person could save not only my dad, but also other lives in the process. If you’ve ever thought about donating, now is the time.”
As they wait for a miracle, the Howell family continues to hold onto faith. Ben remains optimistic, drawing strength from the love surrounding him. For them, this journey is not just about survival—it’s about legacy, family, and the extraordinary power of selfless love passed down through generations.
Those interested in donating a kidney to save Ben’s life can contact the family by email at findbenadonor@gmail.com
To learn more about kidney donation and find out if you’re eligible:
• Submit a survey: Go to https://redcap.link/
Additional statistics about LKD in Black Americans:
• Although Black Americans comprise about 13% of the US population, more than 30% with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are Black (Norton et al., 2016)
• Compared to non-Hispanic white children, Black pediatric patients were 66% less likely to receive a living kidney donor transplantation (LKDT) within two years (Almar et al., 2020)
• In 2024, rates of LDKT were higher among non-Hispanic whites (61%) compared to Blacks (12%) (OPTN, 2025)
References
Amaral, S., McCulloch, C. E., Black, E., Winnicki, E., Lee, B., Roll, G. R., Grimes, B., & Ku, E. (2020). Trends in living donation by race and ethnicity among children with end-stage renal disease in the United States, 1995-2015. Transplantation Direct, 6(7), e570. https://doi.org/10.1097/TXD.
Norton, J. M., Moxey-Mims, M. M., Eggers, P. W., Narva, A. S., Star, R. A., Kimmel, P. L., & Rodgers, G. P. (2016). Social determinants of racial disparities in CKD. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology: JASN, 27(9), 2576–2595.
https://doi.org/10.1681/ASN.
Organ Procurement & Transplantation Network. (2025). National data. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. https://optn.transplant.hrsa.
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