RALEIGH, N.C. — Valentine's Day is also National Organ Donor Day. The day is dedicated to bringing awareness and educating people on the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation. 

Nearly 4,000 people in North Carolina are in need of a lifesaving transplant. Katina Johnson is one of them. 


What You Need To Know

  • National Organ Donor Day is recognized on Feb. 14 

  •  Nearly 4,000 people in North Carolina are in need of a lifesaving transplant 

  •  Katina Johnson has chronic kidney disease 

  • Johnson has been on the wait list for a kidney for five years 

Johnson was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in 2016. Over the last year it has rapidly advanced from stage three to end-stage renal disease, meaning her kidneys are failing. 

"You feel fatigue, you get nausea, you get the vomiting, you lose your appetite, you get a symptom which is itching of the skin, it's a very bad stage to be in, and that's why they call it end-stage renal disease because pretty much, your kidneys have stopped working," Johnson said. 

Johnson's diagnosis came years after she received a liver transplant in 2004 due to a bad case of pneumonia. 

"My kidneys took a hit and I did have to do a little bit of dialysis, but it did wake my kidneys up. I was taking rejection drugs, which led to me having the chronic kidney issues," Johnson said. 

Johnson has been waiting for a transplant for five years. The average wait time for a kidney is between three to five years. 

Because her kidneys are not functioning, Johnson has been put on peritoneal dialysis, which requires her to be hooked up to the machine for eight hours, seven days a week. 

"I can not miss a day," Johnson said. 

The peritoneal dialysis allows her to receive treatment at home. It cleans the toxins out of her body. 

"I have seen a difference in my energy level since I've been on PD," Johnson said. 

However, it limits her quality of life. Johnson works as a laboratory scientist. When she gets home she has to start her dialysis. 

"Because this is eight hours a day, I can't do anything. This is my life. I go to work, come home and that's it," Johnson said. 

Johnson says receiving a transplant would allow her to do things she loves again, like teach Zumba, exercise with her trainer, go to church and travel. 

"It would mean the world to me if I got a donor to donate to me because I just want to live life, I just want to do the things that I would do before this, so hopefully this is my year," Johnson said. 

Johnson is in need of a donor who has A positive or O blood type. 

To learn more about qualifications to become an organ donor, click here