Kayla Dahl

Kayla Tank Dahl

Transplant Type:  Kidney

My name is Kayla Tank Dahl. I have lived in Great Falls, Montana for 30 years. As a child I went to Fairview Baptist Church where I learned how much I loved singing. In high school I performed at a Christian school conference were I won first place in singing. I now enjoy singing in the church choir. I also love to play the piano. Three years ago I had the privilege to travel to New York City with the Great Falls College Choir and sing in Carnegie Hall. Aside from singing I love the outdoors; hiking, kayaking, and taking photos of nature. Photography and video recording is another passion of mine which prompted me to start my own business. Professionally it has always been my passion to work in the medical field. I received my CNA certification and have been working within the healthcare system for the past 8 years and now working in Housekeeping. Six years ago I meet a wonderful man who is now my husband. We just celebrated our second year anniversary! 

By receiving a kidney transplant I would hopefully be able to live a fuller life. My husband & I would like to have children of our own some day, but this would never be possible with my current kidney. All these ambitions will not come to be if I am not blessed with a new kidney. Let me share how my story began.

In 1988 my parents found out my mother was pregnant with a baby girl, but they weren’t expecting what was about to take place. During a routine ultrasound the doctor found that I had only one kidney and the kidney was filled with urine. Several qualified doctors questioned whether I was viable to live, but my parents chose to continue with the pregnancy. I was born prematurely weighing just 2 pounds 8 ounces, although most of my weight was the urine that had collected in the kidney. My kidney function was so poor that a prognosis was determined that I would not survive long enough to reach 20 pounds, which at that time was the minimum age for a successful kidney transplant. The kidney doctor who had been overseeing my care performed a surgery that left an opening in my back for my kidney to drain into a urostomy bag. This surgery was successful for a couple of years, but the opening expanded and soon my kidney would extend out of the opening in my back when I cried. A second surgery was done that attached a section of my intestine to the kidney and then out my belly into a urostomy bag. At the age of 15 a third surgery was completed at Children’s Hospital in Seattle to remove my bag altogether. This surgery has been successful for the last 14 years. However, now as an adult my kidney is failing and it has been determined that the best course of action is to proceed with a kidney transplant. Being a newly married woman with hopes for a family a kidney transplant is my only chance for survival and living a life to the fullest.

Along with myself and my family your monetary donation would be a blessing to help offset the medical bills necessary for this transplant.

Thank you for taking time to read my story. Your prayers are as important to us as I continue down the road of living a long and productive life. I was able to travel to Portland, Oregon to go thru the testing to get on the donation list. Now were in the processing of waiting for a kidney!