Danielle’s Story

Hi, I’m Danielle Roessle, a military spouse and mother of a one-year-old son. On February 18th, 2025, I received a life-saving kidney transplant—an event that changed my life forever. This is my journey.


I was a healthy, active woman until I gave birth to my son in February 2024. Complications during delivery changed everything—I lost my kidneys and suddenly found myself navigating motherhood while fighting for my life.

Since then, I’ve documented my journey—from surviving dialysis as a new mom to launching a kidney campaign in search of a living donor, to now embracing life post-transplant.

Through my vlogging and writing, I explore not just my own experience but the deeper realities of living with chronic illness, navigating the medical system, and, most importantly, the life-saving impact of organ donation. My hope is to spark deeper reflection, educate, and inspire meaningful conversations.

Whether you’re a friend following my updates, a fellow patient navigating your own journey, or simply curious about the life-changing power of organ donation, I invite you to follow along. It’s been a wild, emotional ride—and I’m just beginning to scratch the surface…

Interested in becoming a living kidney donor? Learn more through DOVE, a nonprofit supporting veterans in need.

Blog

My IVF Story Got Published!

My IVF story got published in the Jewish Fertility Foundation newsletter!
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Redefining Normal: Embracing Life After Transplant

These moments—like my first shower and meal—were not the triumphant milestones I expected. Instead, they highlighted the unpredictability of my new normal and how my experience of anticipatory cognition has shifted.
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The Fleeting Nature of Gratitude

I don’t think people talk enough about the fleeting nature of immense gratitude and the sadness that comes with its fading. It creeps up in a walk or a moment, where gratitude and the recognition that it’s leaving come together. We also don’t talk about the slow, gradual mourning that follows as the mundane day-to-day life returns.

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