My name is Barbara DiVesta. I served for three years in the US Air Force Nurse Corp at FE Warren and at Travis AFB. My husband of 43 years (and counting) and I met and married at FE Warren AFB IN Cheyenne, WY.
After our military service, we moved to Colorado where we have been ever since. I worked as a Labor and Delivery nurse for 30+ years. Dave taught in both the public schools and as an Instructional Design professional for the remainder of his career. I was an O-3 when I got out of the Air Force, and he retired from the Air Force Reserves as an O-6.
We have three children and four grandchildren. Our oldest, Aaron, lives in St Louis with his wife and my two older grandsons, ages 14 and 11. Kelley, our daughter, lives in Seattle. She and her husband have a son and a daughter ages 9 and 6. Our youngest, Austin, and his fiancée live in the mountains of Colorado.
I was initially diagnosed with “chronic pyelonephritis” when I was 18. Nothing was said or done about it again until I was in my 30’s when I started spilling protein in my urine. Again, nothing much other than occasional lab monitoring for another 10-15 years. At that point, I started seeing a nephrologist who has been closely monitoring my labs. She diagnosed me with glomerular nephritis.
My kidney function has gradually declined over the years, and I am getting very close to needing dialysis. I have been active on the transplant list since April of 2024 and have been searching for a living donor via social media and friends and family ever since. While several people have signed up to be tested for me, no one has qualified to continue through to donation thus far.
I enjoy spending time with my family, wherever that may take me. I love to play tennis, hike, read books, and watch movies. I am active in a book club and active in my local church. I am confident God has a donor out there somewhere for me. I am just trying to get the word out to as many people as possible to give me a better chance of finding a donor and getting on with the rest of my life.
For medically cleared donors, giving the gift of life through living kidney donation has been proven to be very safe. DOVE will assist all prospective donors throughout the process and make sure they do not incur any out-of-pocket expenses related to the evaluation or surgery. A healthy person can live a normal life with one kidney and save Mary’s life with the other!
Your support, whether through spreading the word on social media or considering becoming a donor, can make a profound impact on her life and the life of her family!
Please click on the link below if you would like to learn more OR call (551) 233-1611