Every morning, Kalpana Patel starts her day with two goals, to do good in the world, and to find a kidney donor. The 60-year-old wife and mother has selflessly worked throughout her life determined to do good for others. Something she plans to do for many more years to come.

Kalpana came to the United States from India in the 1980s with a degree in biochemistry. She worked tirelessly for 15 hours a day, seven days a week until she married her sweetheart in 1996. Together, they started a gas station and convenience store business which grew to three stores. While working, she also became a doting mother to a son who is currently studying to become a pharmacist.

Unfortunately, like so many Americans, Kalpana was diagnosed with diabetes which she managed with insulin until 2021; when her body reacted to her medication and brought her to the brink of death. She was unable to eat and started to have intense body swelling. She was told that her symptoms were actually the result of kidney failure and would need a transplant.

She has been waiting for a kidney ever since.

Her kind heart has made her a pillar in her community in Charleston, South Carolina where she takes care of everyone she meets. She actively cares for the elderly in her community, something she has done for most of her life. Kalpana also adopts several families during the school year to help them purchase back-to-school items. Caring is in her DNA.

When her son was growing up, she made sure that all of his friends were always taken care of and that they were staying on the right path; all while also working to support her family here in the US and in India as well.

Sweetly, her son’s friends offered to donate their kidneys saying “your mom has taken care of us when we were in high school to make sure that we didn’t go the wrong way in life and we are thankful to her”, but she has declined to take them up on the offer. Taking a kidney from someone who is young and healthy doesn’t sit right with Kalpana.

She is now asking the public for help. Should she find a living donor who would be willing to donate their kidney, she would be able to fulfill her goal to further impact her community for the rest of her life. With this incredible gift, she would be able to spend more time with her husband and her son whom she calls “the biggest lottery ticket in life”.

Are you willing to help this incredible woman with the gift of life?