Danielle’s Story

Hi, I’m Danielle Roessle—a military spouse and mom to a 18-month-old son. On February 18, 2025, I received a life-saving kidney transplant. But soon after, it failed. 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 receiving a transplant, and having it fail.

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 here as a friend, a fellow patient, or simply curious about what this life is like with kidney disease, I hope you’ll follow along. This story is still unfolding.

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

Blog

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Rethinking “Live Your Best Life”

Live your best life' is no longer about chasing the productivity or optimization that the self-help industry glorifies—it's about redefining what a meaningful life looks like within my own parameters.

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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