Flipping Furniture and Fixing Futures: A Living Kidney Donor Story

Kristen Fennig, who goes by Broken Masterpieces on YouTube, is best known for transforming old furniture into statement pieces. She pours love into every project and every story she shares. But Kristen's greatest act of love occurred off-screen. She donated a kidney to a friend, saving her life.

Every Sunday, Kristen attends church. That's where she met Kacey.

"Kacey joined our church four years ago. Our congregation prayed for her health–she had an autoimmune disorder that was attacking her kidneys," Kristen said. "Kacey followed her doctor's instructions, changed her diet, and took different medications. Her kidneys still failed."

Kacey started dialysis in June 2024. She needed a kidney transplant.

"I asked Kacey about the deceased donor kidney waitlist. She told me her healthcare team preferred living kidney donors. Her family was getting tested to donate," said Kristen. "I had no clue you could live with one kidney before this conversation."

Kacey explained that living donations are safe. You also don't have to match the recipient to donate. People can enter a paired exchange program, where two donors “swap” their recipient. Both people receive a kidney, even if it isn’t from their donor. Paired exchanges can become a paired chain, where multiple donors and recipients are “swapped”.

Kristen immediately began wondering if she could become a living donor.

"I asked Kacey about her potential donors a month later. They had all been ruled out," Kristen said. "I got her transplant center's information center and filled out the donor evaluation form."

After urine and blood testing, Kristen was delighted to learn she was a match for Kacey.

"I told my husband after learning I was a match. He fed off my joyful energy but did have a few questions about safety. Once I educated him, his fears were alleviated. He was fully behind me," Kristen said. "I scheduled the rest of my testing after this discussion. Those tests make sure it is safe for a person to donate."

The conversation with her children was a little more complicated.

"My seven-year-old wanted to watch the surgery. My ten-year-old was quietly concerned. My 11-year-old asked me what would happen if I died on the table," said Kristen. "My husband and I worked with each kid to explain the situation in an age-appropriate manner and reassure them."

A few weeks passed, and Kristen got the news she'd hoped for–she was cleared to donate!

"We sat down with my parents to discuss the news. They would be helping with the children, cooking, and cleaning while I was in the hospital and recovering. I couldn't make this decision to go through with the surgery on my own," said Kristen. "Thankfully, they were more than happy to help."

The surgery was scheduled for early October 2024.

Interested in learning more about living kidney donations? Check out NKF’s free, online videos delivered by living donors about what to expect throughout the process. Sign up here to get started.

Kristen had some anxiety, but seeing Kacey the morning of the surgery eased her fears.

"All of us were so bubbly and excited," said Kristen. "I don't remember much after we were separated for the surgery preparation."

Kacey felt amazing after the surgery. Kristen experienced some pain from trapped air in her abdomen.

"The surgeon pumps air into your abdomen during the surgery. That gas floats up to your shoulder. The staff prepared me ahead of time for this. A combination of pain medicine, a heat pack, and my husband messaging my shoulders helped," Kristen said. "The hospital staff was wonderful. They were so kind and even wrote superhero on my door.”

But Kristen doesn't consider herself a hero.

"I don't feel like I did anything special. I feel humbled and honored that God allowed me to save someone's life," said Kristen. "How many people get to say they experienced a miracle? We'd been praying for one for four years. Then I got to be part of that miracle."

While Kacey is still immunocompromised and stays home, her energy has returned.

"Kacey feels fantastic and her kidney numbers look great,” said Kristen. "She’s doing projects and organization that she couldn't do before. Her mom told me Kacey is running circles around her."

Learn about life after a kidney transplant. 

Kristen usually shows people how to flip furniture and shares products that make a difference in her life. Now, she’s adding living kidney donation into the mix.

"So many of my followers were shocked by my decision to donate a kidney," said Kristen. "They asked questions like 'How can you live with one kidney' and 'What if you need a kidney?' I documented my journey and turned it into a video. In it, I answer these questions and more."

She's determined to bust myths surrounding living donation.

"If you are healthy, you can live a fantastic, full life with one kidney. There are no restrictions on my diet or exercise routine," Kristen said. "If I need a kidney in the future, I'll move to the top of the kidney waitlist for a living donation."

Kristen donated through NKR's voucher program, which lets donors name up to five people who will receive priority for a living kidney donation if needed. NKR also has other benefits for people who donate through NKR at a partnering transplant center.

"I think more people would donate if they knew about it," Kristen said. "I hope sharing my experience inspires others to consider giving this incredible life-saving gift."