VICE PRESIDENT, former Executive Committee Member, U.S.M.C.
Jennifer Jones is a two-time kidney transplant recipient, having received her first transplant from a living donor in 4/2015 and her second from a deceased donor in 11/2021. In 2011, while serving in the United States Marines as a Combat Camera Videographer, her kidneys declined during her deployment to Afghanistan. After being medically evacuated back to the United States, she was diagnosed with Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis, Type 1 Idiopathic (MPGN).
In the beginning, Jennifer admits that she was considered a “challenging patient” because she initially couldn’t accept what was happening to her. She realized the necessity of accepting her current situation when she began in-center hemodialysis. Focusing on what was within her control, she became her own advocate and took charge of her health and well-being. Once approved for a kidney transplant, Jennifer actively pursued a living donor. On April 2, 2015, she received a kidney transplant and gained a new sister – a selfless individual who didn’t know her personally but felt compelled to save her life after hearing her story.
For the next five years, Jennifer concentrated on rebuilding her life. She focused on earning a BA in Organizational Leadership from Penn State, engaged in chronic kidney disease advocacy work with the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP), and launched a business. However, MPGN reappeared, causing rapid acute kidney injury to her transplanted kidney.
At the beginning of January 2021, she returned to dialysis, choosing peritoneal dialysis to remain safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, due to her severely compromised immune system, she spent a significant amount of time in and out of the hospital due to other ailments. Despite these challenges, Jennifer remained determined to find a donor and be placed on the transplant list again.
In the same year, Jennifer was fortunate to find another donor willing to participate in a kidney-paired exchange. However, in November, a deceased donor match was found, and she received her second transplant on the 28th. Her living donor’s kidney went on to save the life of another Veteran in need. Without the support of her family, friends, and fellow kidney warriors, she wouldn’t be here today.
Currently, Jennifer is also a member of various advisory boards and organizations, including the Kidney Precision Medicine Project Community Engagement Committee, the Center for Dialysis Innovation Patient Advisory Board, the Patient and Family Advisory Council of Quality Insights Renal Network 5, the National Patient and Family Engagement Learning and Action Network Health Equity Committee, the New York University Langone Community Advisory Board, the Veterans Transplantation Association, and Kindness for Kidneys. She is deeply passionate about advocating for policies that enhance the quality of life for kidney patients and their families, patient-centered education, community building, and removing barriers to living organ donation and innovation.
