Perhaps you noticed the recent news story about the actor Jesse Eisenberg who is donating one of his kidneys next month (December 2025) to a stranger. If you did not notice the article, I sure did – see, I am one of the over 100,000 people living in the United States who are on the waiting list for a new kidney.
Father JC Garrett. Mike Ehrmann photo
I am Father J.C. Garrett, a priest of the Diocese of Trenton since 2004, and I am currently in end-stage renal failure. In December 2022, I contracted a rare, but serious infection inside my heart. While the infection was defeated and the damage to my heart has been repaired, unfortunately the infection also shut down my kidneys. So in January 2023, at the age of 58 I had to retire from active ministry due to disability.
While looking at me you would not think that I am disabled (unless you notice the bandage I have on my left forearm nearly all the time), however every Monday, Wednesday and Friday I spend 4 hours connected to a dialysis machine which literally drains out my blood, removing the toxins and extra fluid, and returns the blood through the “access point” in my left forearm. While dialysis is keeping me alive, it is not a pleasant experience. For hours after dialysis I suffer from cramps in my feet and legs, fatigue, headaches, and low blood pressure.
I am on the waiting list for a new kidney. Here in New Jersey the average waiting time for a new kidney is 5-7 years. It is important to understand that the waiting list is for a kidney from a cadaver, from someone who has died.
The other option is to find a living donor, like Mr. Eisenberg is going to be. I have checked with my family, but so far none of them are able – either they are not medically eligible or they are not compatible. So now I am “casting a wider net” by starting a social media campaign to promote awareness of kidney disease, and the chance to give the gift of life by becoming a living donor. Around 70% of people could be a living donor; it has little to no impact on the donor’s life, and the recipient’s insurance pays for pretty much everything.
The business card that accompanies this article has a QR code that will take you to a website I put together to tell “my story” and provide more information about kidney donation. I am asking people to first of all to pray for me and those 100,000 other Americans who are in need of a new kidney. I also ask that you become my ambassadors by sharing my story and business card on your social media pages. Finally I would ask you to consider registering to be tested to see if you could be a living donor; either directly for me or through the Paired Exchange program.
With a new kidney, I will hopefully be able to return to full time ministry serving the People of God in the Diocese of Trenton. Thank you.