Two Hawai‘i Island sisters are sharing their remarkable story of love, sacrifice, and second chances made possible by The Queen’s Medical Center in partnership with the National Kidney Registry’s Voucher Program.
For years, Kuʻulei Pali-Forth, 33, lived with IgA Nephropathy, a chronic condition that slowly damaged her kidneys. When her kidneys failed in 2022, her life revolved around dialysis treatments three times a week.
“It felt like you were on your deathbed,” said Kuʻulei. “I tried to stay strong for my kids, but some days were harder than others.”
Her younger sister, Kuʻuipo Pali-Forth, had promised a decade earlier to donate a kidney if Kuʻulei ever needed one. But after medical testing revealed they were not a match, the sisters feared they had reached a dead end until they learned about the National Kidney Registry’s Voucher Program. The program allows someone to donate a kidney to a stranger and receive a voucher that helps a loved one receive a compatible kidney through a nationwide network.
In August 2024, after more than a year on the transplant list, Kuʻulei received a compatible kidney at The Queen’s Medical Center, home to Hawai‘i’s only transplant program.
“I was given a second chance,” said Kuʻulei. “I don’t have to depend on a machine anymore. I get to be with my kids and live a normal life again.”
Both sisters described their experience at The Queen’s Medical Center as compassionate, supportive, and filled with aloha.
Today, Kuʻulei is back in school, traveling with her family, and enjoying everyday moments she once feared she would miss. The sisters hope their story encourages more local families to learn about living kidney donation.
To learn more about Queen’s Living Kidney Donor Program, visit: https://www.queens.org/locations/hospitals/qmc/services/transplant-center/living-kidney-donation/
To learn more about the Queen’s Transplant Center, visit: https://www.queens.org/locations/hospitals/qmc/services/transplant-center/
Click below to watch the sisters’ video.
