Our Mission
Mission Statement
Our Mission is to provide donor education while educating the public. We aim to create avenues for kidney patients and their families. We will advocate and collaborate to improve kidney health, while encouraging others to Save a Life and Be a Donor. Our Get Involved Initiatives will focus on Annual Community Events, Campaigns, Dialysis Drives and Educational Presentations, all of which will cater to those affected by Kidney Disease.
We’re all patients.
“My personal connection to kidney disease began in 2004 when I was suddenly diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease, with unknown causes. No one in my family had kidney disease, and I did not have any known pre-existing conditions that are typically associated with it. As a retired educator, patience is a familiar fruit of the spirit. Being a patient in the dialysis chair launched me into a new dimension of patience. I truly could not have endured kidney disease for twenty years without faith in Jesus, and community. Words cannot express my sincerest gratitude towards my living donor, my oldest son David. I am eternally grateful for this renewal. Having my quality of life restored and sustained since 2006 is truly a blessing I do not take for granted. My children and I began this nonprofit in 2019 to share our story from the lens of the recipient, the donor, the caregiver, the advocate, the legislator, and the researcher. We are truly blessed to bless somebody else, because it’s not about us!”
— Andrea (Dudley) Cox, Founder
While most of us are born with two kidneys, it only takes one to lead a healthy lifestyle. It also only takes one kidney to share the gift of life with someone else as an altruistic or living donor. Here at It Only Takes One, our mission is to provide donor education to patients, their families, and others suffering from circumstances connected to CKD.
We aim to create avenues for kidney patients and their families. We strive to inform, advocate, and collaborate to improve kidney health, while encouraging others to Save a Life and Be a Donor. With our Get Involved initiatives, we hope to have successful Community Events, Campaigns, Dialysis Drives, and Educational Presentations that cater to those affected by kidney disease.
It is important for all of us to know about our kidney health and our family history, so that we to know what to ask our doctors. 1 in 3 Americans are at risk for developing kidney disease. Approximately 37 million Americans are affected by kidney disease today, which is an increase of seven million since we started as a social impact initiative back in 2016. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, kidney disease is the ninth leading cause of death in the United States. Risk factors for CKD include: diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, a family history of kidney failure, and being over the age of 60. Black and brown groups tend to have a higher risk due to higher rates of diabetes and high blood pressure in those communities. Factors such as educational resources, access to care, poverty, and diet tend to be epidemiological confounders.
On average, a kidney donated by a living donor lasts for about 20 years, while a kidney donated by a deceased donor last about 15 years. This duration can vary depending on several factors, including recipients overall health, how well the body accepts the transplanted kidney, and adherence to post-transplant care and medications. Living donor kidneys generally last longer than kidneys from deceased donors due to better matching and the reduced time the kidney is without blood flow during the transplantation process.
According to the National Kidney Foundation, 17,107 kidney transplants were performed in the United States in 2014. However, that only accounts for a small portion compared to the number of people on the waiting list for a kidney transplant. We want to improve these numbers by encouraging more people to give the gift of life. We strive to be part of positive change in transplanting kidneys and transforming lives.
Having a kidney transplant is one form of treatment for kidney disease. Dialysis is an alternative form of treatment and is often utilized more to ensure that patients can remove the build-up of toxins from their bodies. Often times, dialysis treatments can take a toll on one's physical, emotional and psychological health. We know personally based on Andrea's dialysis journey, which is why we work diligently at It Only Takes One to provide information to everyone about kidney health, one kidney at a time. Prevention is key, and knowledge is power. We strive to advocate and empower those affected by CKD (and their families) to make empowered decisions about their kidney health.