Zachary's Story

Zachary

Zachary Sutton experienced kidney disease firsthand with his grandmother, mother, and family friend. He missed his undergraduate graduation at Clemson University due to his grandmother passing away while on renal dialysis. He was able to volunteer for Donate Life when they sponsored the South Carolina triathlon series in the 2000s but he also offered a kidney to a friend who might require dialysis. His mother suffered from chronic kidney disease when he arrived on the campus of the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in 2008. Zachary went into the transplant office his first week on campus and was able to shadow a kidney transplant. This event inspired Zachary to donate a kidney, and at the end of his fall exams to the MUSC physician assistant program in 2008, he became the first altruistic kidney donor in South Carolina. Unfortunately, the recipient of his transplant passed away, but Zachary continues to be a vocal advocate for kidney donation.