Patient Stories

• Ken always saw living kidney donation as something admirable—but distant—until his brother’s health made the decision feel closer than expected.
• At UC Health, Ken quickly completed testing and evaluation and learned he could safely become a living kidney donor, receiving support throughout the process.
• Over the following year, Ken steadily returned to training and competitive fencing, resuming the active life he enjoys with his brother healthy by his side.

The gift of life begins with one step. Start the conversation to learn what’s possible. Contact our living transplant team by calling 513-584-8313 or completing our online interest form.

Considering the Gift of Life, One Step at a Time

For years, Ken Gauvey had thought about becoming a living kidney donor.

The Baltimore attorney first became interested after learning about someone in his own life who had donated a kidney and gone on living a full, active life. He started researching what living kidney donation actually involved, reading everything he could and even reaching out to organizations to learn more. Then, life took an unexpected turn: before Ken could move forward, his younger brother Matt shared that he was beginning to face serious kidney issues.

At first, the need didn’t seem immediate. But years later, when Matt’s chronic kidney disease progressed and a kidney transplant became urgent, Ken didn’t hesitate.

“Once I found out my brother was going to need a kidney, I knew that I was going to be the person who was going to be the donor one way or another,” Ken said. “If it turned out I wasn’t a match for my brother, I would have still done it so they could find a match for my brother.”

That decision set in motion a fast-moving process that would not only change Matt’s life, but also test Ken’s own determination, discipline and recovery as a competitive fencer.

From First Step to Donor Approval

When Matt let the family know it was time to begin testing, Ken moved quickly.

Within about 48 hours of learning the situation had become urgent, he called to begin the donor evaluation process. Soon after, he traveled from Maryland to Cincinnati for testing at UC Health with the Kidney Transplant team.

“Living kidney donation is one of the most powerful gifts a person can give,” says Madison Cuffy, MD, Transplant Division Chief. “For patients like Matt, it can mean avoiding years of declining health and getting back to living life more fully.”

The process was thorough but efficient. Ken completed a full day of donor testing that included bloodwork, imaging and other medical evaluations, all designed to ensure he was healthy enough to donate safely.

After that, everything moved quickly. Ken began the process in late October 2024, learned he was a strong match in early November, and underwent surgery on December 8th, 2024.

For Matt, the decision wasn’t surprising.

“Ken was aggressive,” Matt said. “When he puts his mind to something, he goes full force… he was the first one to get out and do it.” 

Balancing Brotherhood with Real-Life Concerns

Ken was committed from the start, but that didn’t mean he didn’t think carefully about what donation could mean for his own life.

A competitive fencer, Ken had found the sport later in life after joining the same club as his daughter. What started as a way to spend time productively at practice became a serious passion. By the time Matt needed a kidney, fencing had become a major part of Ken’s life and identity.

That made one question especially important: Would donating a kidney keep him from getting back to the sport he loved?

“I was going to do this one way or another,” Ken said. “But my ability to fence was going to determine whether or not I was going to be happy for most of my life or unhappy about it.”

The transplant team took Ken’s concerns seriously and helped put him at ease. He never felt like “just the donor.”

“When I raised a specific concern, the staff was able to address it,” Ken said. “I felt like I could raise the issues that were directly and maybe uniquely affecting me and what my goals were, and they would actually take the time to address those.”

That individualized support mattered, especially for someone determined not just to recover, but to return to a highly physical sport.

A Recovery Measured in Small Wins

Living donation is often described as a series of small yeses, and for Ken, recovery was a series of small milestones.

After surgery, he stayed with Matt while he recovered. What struck him most wasn’t his own discomfort — it was how quickly he saw a difference in his brother.

“Within that two-week period, I stayed at his house, still recovering. The difference for him was amazing,” Ken said. “It was a very small imposition on me, but it had an immediate, incredible effect on him.”

Matt felt that difference almost immediately.

“I woke up feeling better than I went down,” Matt said. “It was amazing for me… I had more energy. It was awesome.”

For Ken, recovery was a little more gradual.

He began trying to ease back into fencing by April 2025, but quickly learned something many living donors discover: recovery is personal, and timelines aren’t one-size-fits-all. By October 2025, he was back to full training. By February 2026, he was competing in his first national fencing event since surgery — fittingly, in Cincinnati, the same city where he had donated his kidney.

Back on the Strip

Today, Ken’s training schedule looks a lot like it did before surgery, and in some ways, even more intentional.

He now trains about 12 to 14 hours a week, balancing gym work, running, and time at his fencing club. He also works with a nutritionist with a background in kidney research to ensure his training, recovery, and long-term health stay aligned.

Getting back didn’t happen all at once. But when it finally clicked, he knew it.

“By the time October came around, I was actually fully able to participate in practice,” Ken said. “I couldn’t sleep at all that night. My adrenaline was through the roof… I was really pumped.”

That moment mattered not just because he was fencing again, but because it confirmed something he had hoped all along: living kidney donation did not take away the life he loved.

In fact, it may have sharpened it.

“The only effect it’s had on my fencing so far is it kind of temporarily delayed my ability to train,” he said. “It was almost a non-existent bump in the whole process for me.” 

A Life Changed — Times Two

For Matt, the transplant meant getting his life back.

After living for years with chronic kidney disease, he now says he feels “great,” is sleeping better, has more energy, and is looking ahead to the future again.

“Stories like Ken and Matt’s are a meaningful reminder of what living donation makes possible,” says Taranpreet Kaur, MD, Transplant Nephrologist. “It doesn’t just improve kidney function; it can restore quality of life, independence, and hope.”

For Ken, the reward is seeing that transformation up close.

“For a long time, his ability to live life seemed to be reduced, month by month, year by year,” Ken said. “To see him almost instantaneously… able to really start enjoying life, I’m just really thrilled to see that.”

And if there’s one message he hopes others take away from his story, it’s that living donation can be far more approachable than many people assume.

“It was such an easy process,” Ken said. “It saves a life, gives someone else a life, without really burdening me with anything. So it was a process so worth doing.”

Why UC Health for Living Kidney Donation

The gift of life begins with one step.

At UC Health, we understand that considering living organ donation is a deeply personal decision. That’s why our approach is built around trust, transparency, and your comfort—so you can move forward at your own pace, with the confidence that you’re supported every step of the way.

• You’re always in control: From your first question to final decision, your safety, comfort, and confidence come first.
• No referral needed: You can explore donation or transplant options directly—no physician referral required.
• Proven experience: Our multidisciplinary team of 25+ specialists performs more than 300 transplants each year.
• Exceptional outcomes: UC Health has one of the highest success rates in the nation for living donors completing surgery.
• Advanced techniques: Minimally invasive, laparoscopic procedures help donors recover faster and return to daily life sooner.
• Dedicated support: Every living donor is paired with a nurse coordinator for guidance, answers, and reassurance throughout the journey.

Whether you’re ready to take the first step or just beginning to explore your options, we’re here to help you feel informed, supported and safe.

Start the conversation today. Call 513-584-8313 or fill out our quick, secure interest form to learn more—on your terms, at your pace.