SEATTLE — A Seattleite is climbing some of the world’s highest peaks to prove an active life is possible after organ donation.
"I love the outdoors,” said Bobby McLaughlin, who donated one of his kidneys. "I just feel it flow through me, this positive energy and vibes that exist out in nature.”
After a biking accident that required him to undergo bone and tissue reconstruction, McLaughlin started learning about the general need for donors. He discovered more than 100,000 people are on the national transplant waiting list, and 13 of them die every day.
McLaughlin decided to become a non-directed donor, meaning he had no connection to the person who received his kidney.
"(I was) always wanting to help people and this seemed like a really natural and easy way to do that,” McLaughlin said. "It didn't matter to me who that was, and in finding out about my recipient later I'm so grateful that I was able to step in and help."
The recipient turned out to be a young father.
Now, McLaughlin is trying to help people further by showing what's possible post-donation.
His Kilimanjaro treks were with groups of other donors who also live active lives.
"It was a phenomenal experience the first time," McLaughlin said. “The second one wasn't just about kidney donation, it was about donation in general. We had a couple of liver donors, a transplant surgeon, nurses - a group of more than 30."
The group has also hiked to Mount Everest Base Camp, which sits at more than 17,000 feet.
Every participant makes the trip voluntarily to help raise awareness, and McLaughlin said there is evidence they’ve inspired others to both consider and follow through with donations of their own.
"Just a great circle that keeps spinning ripples off every time we go,” he said. "Knowing that we're healthy and we're able to, we're grateful to be able to do that."
McLaughlin is planning another small climb of Kilimanjaro in January 2024, a larger one in March of 2025, and a large Patagonia climb in November 2024.
For more information about organ donation, visit UNOS. You can register to be a deceased organ donor online.
KING 5's Evening celebrates the Northwest. Contact us: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Email.