My name is Leslie Ferguson, and I enlisted in the Army Reserve in 1982. I served for six years in the Army Reserve and later in the Individual Ready Reserve, where I trained as a Medic. As a proud Cold War veteran, I developed a lifelong passion for healthcare and helping others.
After my military service, I attended college for a year before welcoming my first son, Jason, in 1985. Over the years, I have worked in many different roles, but one of the most rewarding was serving as a Senior Clinical Counselor at a women’s prison in New Jersey. My second son, Joao, was born in 1993, and being a mother has always been one of my greatest joys.
I have always loved cooking and caring for others. Every weekend, I prepare a large meal and put together care packages for some of our tenants who occasionally face food insecurity. One of my lifelong dreams is to start a catering business.
My mom, Louise Black, was a world-class runner, finishing 4th in the 1964 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 880 yards/800 meters (also her daughter’s race), and became a track coach for the Police Athletic League, a track coach, and an assistant athletic director at Hunter College. She was introduced to running by her cousin Andy Stanfield, who won a gold medal in Helsinki in 1952 and a silver medal in 1956. She passed of pancreatic cancer in 2012, and the family was lost.
In January 2000, I had the exciting opportunity to compete on Jeopardy!, where I finished in second place. I am also a passionate student of Irish history and have spent more than 40 years studying it. I have presented photography and poetry exhibits in both New York City and Dublin.
In January 2002, I met my husband, Patrick, a World Trade Center survivor. He has faced his own health challenges, including melanoma and ongoing severe sinus issues. We married in 2008 and eventually settled in Massachusetts, where we currently manage a residential building together.
Our family continued to grow with the birth of my granddaughter, Amiyah, in 2006. Watching her grow into a college student has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. Jason would reconnect with a childhood friend, Nicole and realize that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her; they married in 2017. Joao would meet Adrian, a film professor at a Miami university. They were married in 2024.
In recent years, I was diagnosed with Tubulointerstitial Nephritis and Uveitis (TINU), a rare autoimmune disorder that affects both the kidneys and eyes. In November 2025, I learned that my kidney function had declined to just 10%. The adjustment has been sudden and challenging. Less than a year ago, I was running five miles a day; today, I am on dialysis. Despite these obstacles, I remain determined and hopeful. I recently started walking again and completed three miles yesterday.
I still have so many goals I want to accomplish. I want to finish college. I want to run a marathon. I want to return to Ireland. Most importantly, I want more time with my family and loved ones.
A living kidney donor would make those dreams possible. Because I have a 99.96% antibody sensitivity rate, finding a direct match is extremely difficult and unlikely. However, paired donation and kidney donation chains offer hope and can help someone like me receive a life-saving transplant even if the donor is not a direct match.
If you are considering becoming a living donor, please consider participating in a paired exchange program or donation chain. Your generosity could not only save my life but also help save the lives of others waiting for a transplant.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for considering the gift of life.
We need you to help us support Leslie. Whether through spreading the word on social media or considering becoming a donor, you can make a profound impact!
Living kidney donation has been proven to be safe. There are no long term consequences to the donor. After recovery, donors can live a normal life with one kidney.
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.
Please click on the link below if you would like to learn more OR call (551) 233-1611.