A kidney from a living donor is a path to avoiding dialysis
UCI Health kidney transplant patient Mark Maselli highlights the value of finding a match
IN THE NEWS: In 2018, when Long Beach resident Mark Maselli was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease, he knew he wanted to avoid dialysis.
The only way to do that and cure the genetic disease that causes cysts grow on the kidneys, he would need a kidney from a living donor.
More than 90,000 people are on the kidney transplant wait list and 12 individuals die each day waiting for an organ as they undergo dialysis
Dr. Uttam Reddy, a UCI Health nephrologist and Maselli’s physician, spoke with ABC 7 Los Angeles about how a donation of a kidney from a living donor is the best treatment for kidney disease.
“Living kidney transplantation is the best treatment for kidney disease because you can often avoid dialysis altogether and you can get a kidney faster [rather] than waiting years and years for a deceased donor kidney.”
As Maselli's disease progressed to the point where he would soon need dialysis, he posted on Facebook about his search for a living donor, resulting in three matches. Little did he know that one of those people was his newfound sister-in-law Bonnie, who would ultimately become his donor.
“When I met Bonnie for the first time, she handed me a bean. As soon as I said the word 'kidney,' I made the connection in my head.”
Maselli’s transplant took place in 2023. After surgery, he and Bonnie recovered together. One year post transplant, he ran his first marathon. Maselli is planning to participate in an Iron Man race later this year.
Watch the report
Learn more about the UCI Health Kidney Transplant Program.
About UCI Health
UCI Health, one of California’s largest academic health systems, is the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. The 1,461-bed system comprises its main campus UCI Health — Orange, its flagship hospital, the UCI Health — Irvine acute care hospital and medical campus, four hospitals and affiliated physicians of the UCI Health Community Network in Orange and Los Angeles counties and a network of ambulatory care centers across the region. UCI Health — Orange provides tertiary and quaternary care and is home to the only Orange County-based National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program and American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, gold level 1 geriatric emergency department and regional burn center. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).