“If you’re on the transplant wait list, please advocate and educate yourself”
- Alana and Reggie
0:38 sec video
OPENING GRAPHIC:
Behind the Numbers
a personal look at underrepresented minorities in Kidney Transplantation
NEXT GRAPHIC:
2020
Although deceased donor kidney transplant rates were equivalent among non-White and White recipients, living donor kidney transplant rates differed by race/ethnicity
National data. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network.
NEXT GRAPHIC WITH ALANA’s VO:
2020
Black recipients were 6x less likely to receive a LDKT
National data. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network.
ALANA VO:
In 2020, Black recipients were roughly six times less likely to receive a living donor kidney transplant.
GRAPHIC BUILDS TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING TEXT WITH REGGIE’s VO:
2020
Hispanic recipients were 4x less likely to receive a LDKT
National data. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network.
REGGIE VO:
And Hispanic recipients were roughly four times less likely to receive a living donor kidney transplant.
CUT TO REGGIE AND ALANA ON-CAMERA, INTERSPERSED WITH B-ROLL
GRAPHIC:
Reggie, Kidney Donor
Alana, Kidney Recipient
Each patient story reflects the real-life experiences of individuals who underwent a Kidney Transplant. Individual experiences may vary. These patients were compensated for their time creating this video.
ALANA:
Seeing so many people on the waitlist made me a fierce advocate for myself. I learned that it was up to me to shorten my wait time by educating myself and being on more than one waitlist. I knew that I would have to educate myself as well as my community.
We've pretty much put boots to the ground. We've gone out in the communities, passed out information, asked questions and pointed people in the right direction.
REGGIE:
What I love about advocating is just getting the message out and seeing people's reaction to getting information that they didn't have previously.
GRAPHIC with photo of young Alana:
Alana was diagnosed the day she graduated from 6th grade
ALANA VO:
I learned of my chronic kidney disease when I was 13 years old.
GRAPHIC with video of Reggie and Alana walking:
Alana is the only sister to 3 older brothers
including 1 who donated his kidney to her
ALANA VO:
During my first transplant, I was lucky enough to have a living donor willing to donate to me, which was my brother.
When I had my first transplant, I thought I was healed. Although I know a transplant is a treatment and not a cure, I thought it'll be a one-time deal for me.
GRAPHIC: 1 TIME DEAL
CUT TO ALANA and REGGIE ON CAMERA
GRAPHIC BUILD WITH ALANA ON CAMERA:
10 years after transplant
32 years old
2nd kidney transplant
ALANA:
10 years after my first transplant, when I was 32 years old, I learned that I would need a second kidney transplant.
FOOTAGE OF REGGIE AND ALANA WITH ALANA’S VO:
I am beyond grateful that, not only did I have one willing living donor, but I had two, my husband.
GRAPHIC BUILD WITH REGGIE’S VO and FOOTAGE OF REGGIE AND ALANA WITH FAMILY:
Reggie knew Alana was THE ONE after the 1st date
REGGIE:
What I love about Alana is the fact that she's a loving person. She makes everyone feel comfortable. She lights up the room. She's the opposite of my personality; I'm a big introvert. She's outgoing, the social butterfly. She's a great mother, great wife she's great to her friends, great to her family.
GRAPHIC BUILD WITH B-ROLL OF FAMILY OUTSIDE:
Reggie was denied 3 times and had to have 2 kidney stone removal surgeries
Alana went on dialysis for a year while they waited for approval
Alana had her 2nd kidney transplant in September 2016
ALANA VO:
It's like once we were denied, a fire was lit in both of us and we became tougher, had a game plan and we executed it.
After our transplant, I had the energy and stamina to grow our catering business even more.
I specialize in seafood and soul food, as well as healthy meal prep dishes.
GRAPHIC BUILD OVER ALANA’s VO:
Alana and Reggie have served 1,000s in their community
and have started a nonprofit to reach many more
I've served the mayor of Washington DC. I've served people at the Department of Commerce. I've done pop-up events, I've done private events, I've cooked in people's homes. I've done private events.
Owning our own business is both rewarding and challenging. I have to do everything. I'm my own boss, but I get to do what I love to do every day.
REGGIE VO:
And me, I just do whatever the boss tells me to do.
CUT TO REGGIE AND ALANA ON-CAMERA:
REGGIE:
That's reality. No fiction there. (laughter)
ALANA ON CAMERA:
Both Reggie and I are proud of the nonprofit that we started to serve healthy meals to dialysis patients and persons living with chronic kidney disease in disadvantaged neighborhoods, to offer them better chances to have better lab results and possibly shorten their time on a transplant wait list.
GRAPHIC WITH ALANA ON CAMERA:
You are more than just a number
ALANA:
You are more than just a number. If you're on the transplant wait list, please educate and advocate for yourself. You could possibly shorten your time on the wait list.
REGGIE:
And if you're considering donating, please get the facts. You never know you could be changing someone's life for the better.
CLOSING GRAPHIC
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MAT-US-2305579-v1.0-07/2023
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