Our Founder and President, Ryan Pendergraft has experienced living organ donation first-hand. Born in Lafayette, LA, he was just two years old when doctors found a lump in his abdomen. They performed emergency surgery on what they thought was a tumor but instead discovered a necrotic kidney due to a kinked ureter and blood vessels. There was no choice but to remove it.

Ryan recovered and lived the completely normal life of a growing boy and young adult, despite only having one kidney. He played all manner of sports, hunted, and fished, and did all the things a “healthy, red-blooded American boy” would do. He graduated high school; went to college; met his wife, Kim; got married; finished college; and embarked on his life together with Kim.

During a life insurance application 8 years later, serious kidney issues were uncovered. He was diagnosed with Secondary Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis aka FSGS and was in stage three renal failure.  He and Kim managed the disease together. He worked out, ate, traveled, and they continued building their dreams.

Sixteen years later, a routine visit to his nephrologist turned everything upside down. Ryan’s kidney function (GFR) had plummeted to dangerous levels and his protein ‘spillage’ increased drastically.  A scan of his kidney revealed a large mass growing right through the middle of it. His problem-solving nature and positive outlook had him ready to tackle the situation head-on and he immediately asked for a referral to M.D. Anderson.  It wasn’t until a few days later that the gravity of the situation really hit both he and Kim. Not only was Ryan facing a serious health crisis, but Kim’s father was also dying of a genetic liver disease and desperately needed a liver transplant. It was a terrifying and incredibly difficult time.

Three months later, Ryan had a partial nephrectomy performed at M.D. Anderson.  The goal was to save his kidney and avoid dialysis.  Despite a successful surgery with cancer removal and a good recovery, his FSGS necessitated he start dialysis one month later.

Dialysis was a pretty rough experience and wasn’t complication-free. Ryan developed a serious pulmonary embolism which required an extended stay in the hospital.

The only silver lining to that time was Kim’s father receiving a successful living donor transplant thanks to a friend, Blair Casey. This living organ donor saved Bubba’s life and brought living organ donation to the forefront of their lives.

Four months later, in March 2020, Ryan was accepted as a candidate for transplant at the Methodist Transplant Hospital in Houston, Texas.  He was so excited — he had people that wanted to donate for him, he was a GREAT patient, and was ready to go.

However, more challenges awaited. During the testing and health screenings for the transplant, doctors discovered his cancer had spread to his adrenal gland and he was now a stage 4 metastatic cancer patient. The prognosis wasn’t good. He had just a 15% chance of surviving five years.  The transplant was cancelled.

“Well, what are you doing tomorrow?” he asked his oncologist. “I am already here, let’s get this done so I can have my transplant some day.”

That was always his attitude.  No crying about it – he just wanted to get it done.  

On September, 10, 2020, during the peak of COVID, he had cancer removal surgery. With the transplant cancelled, he was now in the hospital with one underperforming adrenal gland and no kidneys.

Dialysis was now a survival requirement. He was in the clinic every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at the first shift. He even contracted COVID! While it was thankfully pretty uneventful, he was miserable nonetheless.

Then, in February of 2021, the famous “Big Texas Freeze” was underway and he told Kim, “We need to be careful, this sort of weather kills people like me”. He had no idea how correct he was.  When most of the state lost power and water, there was no dialysis.

NONE.

He went for 5 days without treatment until Kim finally found a clinic that could provide three hours of life-saving treatment.  But after an hour and a half, the power went out.

As Kim prepared to drive him anywhere with power and water for emergency treatment, a 1am treatment spot opened up. Treatment continued there until water was restored and he could go back to his normal schedule. Ryan still shudders at the thought of how close he came to dying.

Ryan and Kim were happy to have that experience in the rearview mirror, but the punches kept on coming.

One month later, a routine follow-up scan at M. D. Anderson found an enlarged thyroid which meant cancer for the THIRD time.  In April 2021, his thyroid was removed and a Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter was installed. This gave him the option to perform dialysis at home, even without electricity or running water – an important step to preventing a repeat of the winter storm disaster.  

After a long road of ups and downs, Ryan was finally eligible for transplant in May 2021. Knowing he needed to be where he had the best chance of receiving a successful transplant, Ryan and Kim moved from Corpus Christi, TX to Kerrville, TX to be near the Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital in San Antonio.  Leaving their home, friends, and community that had stood by them through so much was absolutely gut-wrenching and, frankly, terrible.

One of those friends was Brad Freeland. Ryan and Kim met Brad and his wife Linda through a mutual friend. The Freelands were completely unaware of Ryan’s medical history and started to wonder what was going on. When they observed him leaving a small party for seemingly no good reason, friends at the party told Ryan’s story. Unbeknownst to everyone, Brad had long-since decided he wanted to donate a kidney to someone in honor of his oldest son, an organ donor, who had passed away. And that night, Brad and Linda decided that Ryan was that person.

In January 2022, Ryan was listed for transplant and in March of that year, Brad Freeland was tested as an 100% match! After extensive interviews, exams, more interviews, LOTS of blood work, more exams, and more interviews, they were finally given the green light for transplant and surgery was scheduled for June 29, 2022.

Their “D-Day” (donation day) finally arrived. Accompanied to the hospital with an absolute entourage of friends and family, they were surrounded by loved ones.  Ryan’s father prayed over them both.  Linda and Kim stood by their sides through all the prep.

“I remember feeling serene, calm, with not a worry in the world,” Ryan recalls, “and that was before we got ‘the good drugs’. After the ‘good drugs’, Brad was inviting all the nurses to a party on his yacht – he does not own a yacht!”

“When they wheeled me back, Kim was in tears and she said ‘Baby, you’re going to wake up with a kidney!'” Ryan continues, “and my awesome response was just ‘OK, I’ll see you later’. Looking back, we all have a huge laugh about this.”

Surgery was successful and the kidney immediately started working!

Brad recovered very quickly, in fact, he went to Africa and Belize in less than 4 months after the surgery!  

But Ryan’s road to full recovery was a bit bumpier. His team successfully stopped a rejection and saved his kidney. He had multiple infections before his medications were dialed in. Finally, he started learning what he could and could not physically do.

And it all worked!

About a year after his transplant, he and Kim began talking about all they had been through. They knew first-hand all that was involved as a donor recipient but began learning more and more about what Brad went through as the donor. The more they studied, the more they learned about the financial strain living donors bear as they go through the process.

Most of the expenses are not covered by insurance like hotel rooms, travel expenses, fuel, childcare, etc. They had no idea and immediately wanted to do what they could do to assist living organ donors.

So in September 2024, they filed all the necessary paperwork to establish Texas Transplant Network as a 501c3 non-profit to assist living donors with this financial burden. In August 2025, they received their official status.

Through Texas Transplant Network, they established The Bradley Freeland Fund. Grants from this fund are used to remove financial barriers that may prevent someone from giving the ultimate gift to another – in honor of what Brad had so selflessly done for Ryan.