First Capital Federal Credit Union (FCU) recently announced that Lorie Hagar, an employee who was looking for a living kidney donor, has found her match.

Hagar's story began nine years ago when she was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. Her diagnosis could have gone a few different ways: treat the disease and it goes away; live with kidney disease the rest of her life; or the disease progresses, and she needs a kidney transplant.

In February 2022 her doctor told her it had progressed to Stage 5, and it was time to start the transplant process. In November 2022, she was placed on the deceased donor transplant list, which is the first step in finding a donor. However, the wait time for a deceased donor kidney can be five or six years. That's why Hagar started looking for a living donor kidney. 

In April of 2023, First Capital FCU shared Hagar's story with the York community and put up yard signs around its branches, and Hagar was even gifted billboard space for four weeks from Lamar Advertising.

With April being National Donate Life Month, First Capital FCU shared that on Jan. 4, Hagar received a new kidney from a living donor. Now, she is back to work and feeling great.

National Donate Life Blue & Green Day was held on April 12. First Capital FCU staff wore blue and green that day to show their support for Hagar and to help increase awareness around the importance of organ donor registration.

To view a video about Hagar's experience, visit http://www.youtube.com and search for "Lorie Hagar's story."