“I feel like a free man.”

In 1999, Garrett Dykes' life took an unforeseen turn when, at age 16, he was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease. Knowing he wouldn't lead a normal life like other kids hit hard, and Garrett often found himself feeling out of place as the only teenager in support meetings filled with people much older. Garrett’s doctor likened his illness to a train speeding toward a cliff: eventually the train would go over the edge, but doctors would do everything possible to slow it down as long as they could.

Despite knowing there was no cure without a transplant, Garrett managed with alternative methods for 16 more years. However, in 2015, at age 32, the “train” was hurtling toward the cliff. He had reached stage 5 kidney failure, and he was suffering from debilitating fatigue and memory issues. Garrett was placed on peritoneal dialysis. He had a port placed in his stomach, and he was required to be hooked to a machine 11 hours of every day. “I felt like a prisoner in my own home.”

For nearly three years, Garrett endured. He says, “I was existing. I wasn’t living.” Then, on June 1, 2017, came the call that changed everything. A second chance at life arrived in the form of a kidney transplant. Garrett described the transformative experience as making him feel like a new person. Grateful yet contemplative, he couldn't help but acknowledge the sacrifice made by a family who chose to give a second chance to a stranger: “For the family to think about giving a second chance to a stranger, when they’re dealing with the worst kind of loss, that’s changed my whole life.”

With his new lease on life, Garrett married his supportive partner, Kristin, who had been with him throughout the darkest parts of his journey. They savored the joy of a milestone he once doubted he would reach. Garrett takes joy in the simple things. He was able to marry the girl of his dreams; they bought a home together; and he works in a job he loves. He doesn’t take any of that for granted. “I feel like a free man. I’m a new person with a second chance at life.”