I want to help
Save Uncle Mike, with the blue star in the A Save Uncle Mike, with the blue star in the A

Mike needs a kidney.

YOU could save Mike’s life! Can you take a few minutes to see if you could be his donor? Start a confidential, non-binding check with Medical City Dallas.

I want to help Share Mike’s Story

Confidential donor screening. No commitment to donate.

Mike, in his own words

Follow along at @saveunclemike

Mike’s Story

A devoted dad. A beloved brother and uncle. So much more life to share.

Mike is the person who shows up for others (and brings the fun!). Raised with two brothers and a sister, he grew up in a close-knit family whose bond remains strong today.

Mike and his son in blazers, at home
Mike at a family birthday, with a candle in his cupcake
Mike at the helm of a sailboat, in black and white
Mike with his son as a little boy

A single father, his greatest pride is his son, who attends Jesuit Dallas and is active in sports. Mike attended Strake Jesuit, along with his two brothers, in Houston, and is enjoying watching his son make his own memories within the Dallas Jesuit community.

Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at five years old, Mike has spent a lifetime navigating health challenges while building a successful commercial real estate appraisal career, raising his son by himself and being there for his family. Through difficult days, he has continued to find the light, having faith that circumstances will improve.

A message from Uncle Mike

“You don’t have to be my donor to help me find one. My donor is probably someone none of us know yet.”

Mike McAuliffe, from his video

Why Mike needs a living kidney donor

  1. Mike is living with kidney failure and relies on dialysis to do all of the work his kidneys can no longer do. Treatment helps keep him alive, but it takes a significant toll on his energy, independence and everyday life.

    He is working with the transplant team at Medical City Dallas and needs a kidney transplant. A living donor could give him more time and the opportunity to return to more of the life he loves, especially being there for his son.

    Unfortunately, none of his family members are a match. They created Save Uncle Mike to share his story beyond their own circle and reach out to someone who may be willing to explore the possibility of donating a kidney.

  2. You could help change his story.

    Start by sharing Mike’s story. His donor may be someone you know, or someone they know. Every share is another chance to reach a person who could help. It’s like casting a stone in a still pond and watching the ripples grow outward.

    If you’re interested in exploring living kidney donation, you can complete a confidential questionnaire through Medical City Dallas. It does not commit you to donating. The transplant team will review your information and determine whether further evaluation is appropriate.

    Share Mike’s Story Explore Becoming a Donor

General information, based on Medical City Dallas’s living donor pages and the National Kidney Foundation. Not medical advice.

Video updates

Get to know Mike and the people who love him.

Follow along as Mike and his family share their experiences, everyday moments and updates on the search for a living kidney donor.

  • Mike You don’t have to be my donor to help me find one
  • His sister I call him Mikey
  • His son Dear Dad
  • His sister His donor probably doesn’t know him either
  • His niece Everyone has an Uncle Mike
  • His brother Four things you don’t know about Uncle Mike
  • Mike Monday, Wednesday and Friday: Mike’s dialysis days
  • His sister My brother Mike needs a living kidney donor
  • His niece Can you live with one kidney? Here’s what to know

I want to help

Two ways to help Mike today.

A living donor match starts with people. Pick the path that fits you best. Both matter.

Path A

I’m interested in becoming a donor.

You could make a life-changing difference for Mike. Start with a confidential health questionnaire through Medical City Dallas. Their living donor team will review your information and guide you through any next steps.

You don’t need to be related to Mike to be considered, and completing the questionnaire does not commit you to donating.

  1. 1Fill out the questionnaireFollow the link provided by Medical City Dallas to complete its confidential living donor health questionnaire.
  2. 2Identify Mike as your intended recipientEnter Michael McAuliffe when asked who you would like to donate to.
  3. 3Let the donor team guide youMedical City Dallas’s living donor team will review your information and explain any next steps. Completing the questionnaire does not commit you to donating, and you can withdraw at any time.

The fine print, in plain words

  • The questionnaire is confidential, non-binding and non-committal. Filling it in does not commit you to donate.
  • Your medical details stay private between you and Medical City Dallas.
  • This website never asks for your health information.
Start the confidential check Opens Medical City Dallas’s living donor page in a new tab.

Living donor FAQ

Honest answers about living kidney donation.

These answers are general. Medical City Dallas answers every medical question about your own health, privately.

Read the full donor guide
Why is finding a living kidney donor so urgent for Mike?

A kidney from a living donor generally lasts longer and is more likely to begin working right away than one from a deceased donor.

Mike needs a transplant, and every day spent waiting is another day dependent on dialysis. His family is urgently searching for a living donor to give him the chance to regain his strength and be there for his son and the many people who love him dearly.

Is it safe to donate a kidney?

Living kidney donation is a well-established surgery, and transplant teams screen donors carefully to protect their long-term health. Like any surgery, it carries risks.

Medical City Dallas will walk you through those risks for your own health, in private, before you decide anything.

Who can be a living donor?

Adults in good physical and mental health. Medical City Dallas asks that living donors be at least 18, and it won’t let anyone donate if their own future health would be at risk. Some conditions, like uncontrolled high blood pressure, can rule a person out.

You don’t need to be related to Mike to be a good match. Medical City Dallas makes that call, privately, after the questionnaire.

How long is recovery?

Most donor surgeries are done laparoscopically, through a few small incisions, which usually means a shorter hospital stay and an easier recovery than traditional open surgery.

At Medical City Dallas, donors typically stay in hospital 1 to 2 days. Most fully recover within a few weeks and go back to work in 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the type of work. Medical City Dallas follows up with donors for at least two years.

What does the process look like?

It starts with the short, confidential questionnaire. If it makes sense to continue, you do basic blood and urine tests at a lab that suits you, then a clinic evaluation at Medical City Dallas that typically takes one day. It checks your health and whether you are a match for Mike.

Along the way you meet an independent living donor advocate, someone whose only job is to look out for you. Surgery only happens after you have been fully evaluated and have said yes, and you can step away at any point.

Can I donate to Mike specifically?

Yes. Choosing who receives your kidney is called directed donation. On the questionnaire, enter Michael McAuliffe when asked who you would like to donate to.

If you turn out not to be a match for Mike, paired exchange may still let you help him.

Will donating cost me anything?

Donors typically pay nothing out of pocket for the medical side. Your evaluation, surgery and follow-up appointments are covered by the recipient’s health insurance, no matter who you donate to.

Insurance usually doesn’t cover costs like travel, lost pay or childcare. The National Living Donor Assistance Center can help eligible donors with travel, lost wages and dependent care. Medical City Dallas will explain exactly what is covered for you before you decide.

Will I be paid for donating?

No. Federal law forbids paying anyone for an organ, and this campaign will never offer or ask for money.

Help with travel, lost wages and dependent care is allowed, and the National Living Donor Assistance Center offers it to eligible donors.

What if I’m not a match for Mike?

You may still be able to help. Through paired exchange, you donate to another patient and that patient’s donor gives to Mike. Medical City Dallas takes part in the national kidney exchange program run by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). Ask them whether it is an option.

You also don’t need to know your blood type to start. Medical City Dallas handles all of the testing.

Can I change my mind?

Yes. You can change your mind at any time, for any reason, even late in the process. You don’t owe anyone an explanation.

Who will see my answers?

Your medical details stay private between you and Medical City Dallas. This website does not collect them, and neither does the family.

Messages for Mike

From the people cheering him on.

A few words from the people who know and love Mike.

  • Mike has inspired me for years with his complete acceptance of his condition which is just amazing to me! His courage and his fortitude is so beautiful.

    Jackie

  • I remember Mike dealing with this as a young kid having to give himself shots. He is a terrific person and deserves a little help.

    Bryan

  • I will continue to ask God to find him a donor as soon as possible!

    Ellen

  • I’m praying that a donor is found for your dear brother and family.

    Jane

  • Please help my cousin Mike. He is an amazing person and a wonderful dad. Praying we find a kidney soon.

    Mary

Contact

Questions? Here’s who to ask.

  • Medical questions about donating

    Medical City Dallas answers every question about eligibility, testing, surgery and recovery, in confidence, through its living donor team.

    Medical City Dallas

  • Personal questions for the family

    Personal questions, offers of help and messages for Mike go to Dan McAuliffe, who speaks for the family, through the campaign’s own email address.

    Email the family

  • Media and interviews

    For all media inquiries, contact Alison Volk at VOLK PR: alison@volkpr.com

    Contact Alison