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A Kidney For Anthony
Your compassion can save Anthony's life
About Me
My Roots
I’m Antoni Mercado (though here in the U.S., I often go by Anthony), and I’m 33 years old. I was born and raised in Cartagena, Colombia—a beautiful, vibrant city on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. If you were to visit Cartagena (and I hope you do!), you could say just my first name and most people would know exactly who I am. They'd probably tell you how much I love dancing, the beach, seafood, and watching a beautiful sunset, how I'm always on the go, traveling and exploring the world, that I enjoy racing across town between work, school, and spending time with my friends and family.
I grew up in a tight-knit Christian family that means the world to me—my mom, dad, sister, brother-in-law, and my sweet nephew. After high school, I earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and worked in hotel finance.
Cartagena, Colombia
Cartagena, Colombia
Holding my newborn nephew in Cartagena, Colombia
Cartagena, Colombia
Starting my new life in the U.S.
In 2018, after meeting my American partner who was visiting Cartagena on vacation, I moved to Chicago to start our life together. I took night classes to learn English while working several jobs during the day. Before long, I’d built a community, made new friends, and found joy in exploring the city. I fell in love with my new American life—and, of course, I kept dancing at every opportunity! I took the oath to become an American citizen, one of my proudest days.
With my goldendoodle, Kaya in Chicago
Beautiful skyline view in Chicago
Walking my dog along the Chicago river walk
With my goldendoodle, Kaya in Chicago
My health, then the shock
I had always been incredibly healthy. I’ve never smoked or used drugs, and I can barely remember taking anything more than a Tylenol once a year. I’d never been hospitalized, never had surgery, and every doctor’s visit had been completely routine.
Then, in September 2023, everything changed.
I woke up one morning feeling like I had the flu—fatigue, fever, sore muscles. I assumed it would pass. I remember making homemade chicken soup, recalling my mom's common phrase, "there's nothing better for the body than chicken soup with lots of veggies." But after two days with no improvement, I went to urgent care. They drew blood, told me it was probably viral, and sent me home. The next morning, I received a phone call that one of my lab values was “critically abnormal,” and I needed to go straight to the ER.
At the hospital, I was told I was in acute kidney failure. I could barely process it—I didn’t even know what that really meant. I was admitted to the ICU as doctors tried to figure out the cause and determine if my kidneys might recover. But my condition continued to worsen. My potassium rose to dangerously high levels, and after a biopsy, I was told the damage was permanent. A genetic, random, unlucky stroke of fate. I would need dialysis for the rest of my life—or a kidney transplant.
Just days earlier I had been unpacking from a trip to Italy. Now, I was being prepped for surgery to place a catheter in my belly so I could start dialysis.
Having my dialysis catheter placed
Skin changes with dialysis
Dialysis wipes me out completely
Having my dialysis catheter placed
Living with kidney failure
Since that week, my life has changed in every way.
I’ve had to reduce my hours at work. Traveling—something I’m passionate about—is extremely difficult now because peritoneal dialysis is so hard to manage on the road. I take 10 to 15 pills a day. If I drink too much water, my face and feet swell. Every night, I connect to a dialysis machine that pumps 12 liters of fluid through my abdomen while I try to sleep, doing the job my kidneys no longer can.
The Anthony people know—the well-traveled, life of the party, social butterfly, the one who loves the beach and nightlife, and the one who could spend one week on an island sunbathing and the next skiing—has had to slow down. Fatigue, muscle cramps, weight loss and nausea have become daily companions. My days are no longer spent walking my dog Kaya through the woods or biking to the beach, nor are my nights spent hanging out with friends, but rather preparing for dialysis and resting.
Just some of my daily medication routine
Holding 1 of 2 bags of fluid I receive nightly for peritoneal dialysis
Daily supplies for peritoneal dialysis
Just some of my daily medication routine
Why I'm sharing my story
People often tell me I’m resilient, that I’m handling all of this with strength. Maybe so. But I know I’m only able to stay hopeful because of the love and support I receive from my family and friends.
And I know this won’t be my forever.
This is where you may enter my story.
A kidney transplant from a generous, healthy donor could completely change my life. I could get back to being me—to salsa dancing with friends, care-free traveling by finally taking my nephew to Disney World, walking my dog more than a block, and living a full, active life again.
Thank you for taking the time to learn about me. I hope you’ll consider helping give me the second chance I’ve been praying for.
How can you help?
A kidney donation from a living donor could save my life. If you’re interested in starting the process to see if you’re eligible to donate, please use the link below to begin the initial screening steps with my transplant center.
Even if you aren’t able to donate, you can still help me by spreading the word. Sharing my story with your friends, family, and social networks can make a huge difference. Every share increases my chances of finding a life-saving match.
Learn more about the kidneys
How does kidney donation work?
Kidney donation can be from a living donor or a deceased donor, but living donation offers the best outcomes and the fastest path to recovery.
If you’re interested in becoming a living donor, the process typically involves:
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Evaluation: Medical tests and consultations to ensure you are healthy enough to donate.
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Surgery: A minimally invasive procedure called laparoscopic surgery is most commonly used, involving small incisions and a quicker recovery.
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Recovery: Most donors are back to their normal activities within 4-6 weeks, depending on their job and overall health.
Every step of the process is carefully monitored by medical professionals to keep you safe and healthy.
Importantly: The costs of donor testing, evaluation, and surgery are paid by the recipient's (my) health insurance.
More details can be found on the "Resources" and "FAQ" sections.
Learn More About the Kidneys & Dialysis
The kidneys are vital organs that filter your blood, remove waste, balance fluids, and regulate blood pressure. When kidneys stop working properly, it’s called kidney failure, and waste products build up in the body, which can be life-threatening.
What is Dialysis?
Dialysis is a treatment that mimics some of the functions of healthy kidneys. There are two main types:
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Hemodialysis: Blood is filtered through a machine outside the body, usually done at a clinic multiple times per week.
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Peritoneal Dialysis: A fluid is introduced into the abdomen through a catheter, which absorbs waste products and is then drained. This process is done daily, usually at home, and this is the method I use.
While dialysis is life-saving, it’s not a permanent solution. A kidney transplant offers a better quality of life, freedom from daily dialysis, and a healthier, more energetic future.
Frequently Asked questions
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