Seeking a Living Kidney Donor

My name is Ron. I’m a father and a husband.

For over 30 years I was an employment lawyer helping my clients in their darkest hours and for 16 years I was a township trustee. In 1985, I helped to co-found the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA). These days, I spend my retirement volunteering in my community, caring for my pets, and assisting my chronically ill wife with her needs. Unfortunately, I now find myself at a crossroads with my health.
In 1974, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder (at the time known as manic depression). I was put on lithium, which was a lifesaver in managing my mental illness at a time when psychiatric medicine wasn’t nearly what it is today. In 2007, I was diagnosed with kidney disease due to my 30+ years on lithium. I immediately began the process of finding a new medication but my kidney disease has gradually progressed despite no longer taking lithium. At the beginning of 2025, when I did a check in at Northwestern’s kidney transplantation clinic, my doctor told me that my kidneys are functioning at 16% capacity. It is time for a transplant while I’m still in good health to go through with the surgery and to avoid dialysis. At only 69, I want to be around for many more years for my daughters, for our goofy cats and our young dog who will turn 2 in the summer, and for my wife of nearly 33 years who has been living with chronic illness for over a decade and recently completed treatment for breast cancer. I’m looking for a living donor in order to have the best possible outcome with my transplant and so that the procedure can be scheduled. My family is unable to donate so I’m looking to my community and beyond for a donor.
Ready to be tested? Please begin the process by completing the Kidney Donor Questionnaire here. My full name is Ronald Schwartz and my birthday is July 24th 1955. Or be part of my team of heroes by sharing my story. You can find me on my website, my Facebook, and my Instagram.