Kristin Holtsman (left) wtih her husband, Thurman Slone (right) at the UCSF Transplant Center.
Another Hero Rises – Kristin Holtsman – Living Kidney Donor
As a team at Donor Network West, we all play an imperative role in providing successful outcomes in the miracle that is the Gift of Life. Longtime Donor Network West team member, Kristin Holtsman took that calling to the ultimate level. In December of 2024, Kristin Holtsman donated her kidney altruistically, providing a second chance and a healthier life for her recipient.
“I feel like I have a greater appreciation for my health and how precious it is. So, to think that somebody else is now getting to live their life to the fullest makes me really happy.”
Kristin’s interest and inspiration towards becoming a living donor hero began when she started working at Donor Network West about 15 years ago, and peaked when she saw the everlasting impact of the Gift of Life take place in her own family. Kristin’s cousin donated her kidney to her uncle, the ultimate gift from one a daughter to a father. “I think the curiosity and the process started way back when I was hired. But the first really personal impact from donation outside of just how caring for donors has impacted my life was my cousin, who donated to my uncle. Our entire family had the privilege of watching him come back to life before our very eyes.” said Kristin.
Kristin’s heroic and lifesaving decision didn’t hold her out for long, as she was back to her active and fit lifestyle only three weeks after her operation! She received some competitive motivation from her friend and colleague, Luis Mayen, VP of External Affairs and Strategic Partnerships and fellow Living Kidney Donor. “He started jogging at two weeks (post-operation), and so I tried that just because I’m inherently competitive. But it it still felt like my guts were gonna fall out, so then I started jogging at 3 weeks.” said Holtsman.
Kristin recommends that anyone who is interested in becoming a living donor to “Just take the first step. You can make the process go at whatever pace you need it to go. It’s such a big decision with so many steps, it’s like eating an elephant, you need to take it one piece and one stop at a time, making sure you’re okay with everything.”
I asked Kristin “If you could pass on one message to your kidney recipient, what would it be?”
“I hope he knows that my life improved from this as much as his did.”