Morgan Ebel and her dog, Harley. Photo courtesy of Morgan Ebel

A new kidney is what a 25-year-old woman from Washington County is in search of. If you passed Morgan Ebel on the street you’d never suspect the cheerful woman with a bright smile had a medical condition. She received her first kidney transplant when she was 11 and is now in need of a new one from a living donor. She shares it was an undiagnosed case of strep throat at age 7, where the bacteria attacked her kidneys, causing her two kidneys to be replaced by one of her father’s.

She was able to grow up alongside her classmates, just without contact sports. Ebel also shared she doesn’t drink alcohol, but does enjoy spending time out with her friends.

Ebel is sharing her story not only in hopes of finding a kidney for herself, but also to help others who are waiting for donated organs. There are currently 693 people in Iowa on that wait list. She says if she could donate she would, “Even if you’re not a match for someone you’re hoping to be, help somebody else, because it’s needed.”

To hear her full story, listen to the Washington Page on KCII and find more information about becoming an organ donor click here, or here.