After nearly 15 years on dialysis, Johannesburg’s Stella de Kock is looking for a living kidney donor so she can finally live freely again.
Johannesburg, South Africa (February 20, 2026) – In Johannesburg, Stella de Kock no longer measures her life by birthdays or calendar years. Instead, she measures it during dialysis sessions. Since being diagnosed with kidney failure on April 16, 2011, her week has revolved around the machines that keep her alive. She sits through dialysis three times a week for four hours at a time. Over the course of about 15 years, he spent about 9,360 hours enduring it rather than living freely.
“Dialysis keeps me alive,” Stella says. “But I’m not actually alive.”
Dialysis performs the important job of filtering waste and excess water from the blood when the kidneys can no longer manage it. It kept her alive, but it also took a toll, both physically and mentally. Long-term dialysis patients are at significantly increased risk for heart disease and high blood pressure, which can lead to heart failure. Bone density decreases over time, often leading to chronic pain and fractures. Conditions such as dialysis-related amyloidosis can cause joint stiffness, nerve compression, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Persistent anemia leads to deep fatigue that does not improve with rest, while the access points required for dialysis pose an ongoing risk of infection. Neurological symptoms such as muscle spasms and neuralgia are common, but the psychological burden of such a demanding lifestyle is equally heavy.
For Stella, these are not far-fetched possibilities found in medical textbooks. They are part of her daily reality.
“I miss something that most people never think about: being able to pee. I haven’t urinated in 13 years because of kidney failure. Now, every sip is measured. I can’t drink freely when I’m thirsty, and I can’t eat foods high in potassium or phosphates, or even mangoes or avocados, without risking it. The kidney diet is always calculated.”
Despite these limitations, Stella continues to give her energy to others. She serves as the Managing Director of. Transplant education for a living legacyThe organization, known as TELL, is committed to educating South Africans about organ donation and supporting patients and families through the transplant process. Her lived experience has given her rare empathy and authority in this field. Although dialysis limited her quality of life, it gave her time to advocate, educate, and support countless families facing similar fears.
“Dialysis took a lot out of me,” she says. “But it keeps me healthy enough to continue doing the work I love. Now I need a kidney so I can do more.”
There is an urgency behind that statement. Because Stella’s blood type is O, the wait time for a deceased donor kidney in South Africa is significantly longer. Current estimates suggest she could wait another 12 to 15 years. In countries without a national living donor registry, patients must rely on individuals who choose to come forward voluntarily. For someone who has already been on dialysis for 15 years, time is not an abstract concept. It’s an immediate reality.
“On tough days, it’s often the little things that spur me on. A message from someone who understands, a good day after a bad day, and a reminder of how much this body has already endured. And when hope feels far away, I lean on my resilience. I show up because I have to. And every day I do, it’s because it proves that I’m still here and that I’m still choosing life.”
A living kidney donor is an ordinary, healthy adult over the age of 18 who chooses to perform an extraordinary act of generosity. Donor candidates undergo a comprehensive and full medical evaluation to ensure that the donor is safe and suitable. Most people live full, healthy lives with one kidney, while offering others the chance to live without the constraints of dialysis.
“One person can change everything,” says Stella.
After nearly 15 years of survival, Stella is ready to live. The question is whether someone, somewhere, will choose to be the reason she can. If you would like to connect with Stella, please email her here.
Source: TELL – Stella de Kock
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