Paul and Lu Bianchi
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In 2009, Paul Bianchi's kidneys began failing.
He and his wife of 25 years, Lu, faced the unknown together. They knew it would be a long battle, but they didn't anticipate how Lu's decision to donate her kidney would transform not only Paul's prognosis but also their already strong marriage.
A Life-Changing Decision
Paul had begun feeling tired and underwent a physical. A biopsy revealed focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a rare kidney disease causing scar tissue to develop on the parts of the kidney that filter waste from the blood. His initial physicians, unfamiliar with FSGS, offered limited treatment options.
After two years of seeking care at various medical centers, the Bianchis sought an opinion at Mayo Clinic in 2011.
"The physicians at Mayo Clinic were sincere," Lu says. "They allowed us a voice and were selfless, always considering what was best for the patient."
Paul’s kidney function had declined from 18% to 9% between his diagnosis and his Mayo Clinic visit.
The Bianchis attended an educational session on dialysis, a process where a machine filters waste, salt and fluid from the blood when kidneys fail. While dialysis is a life-prolonging treatment, it can also be a challenging experience for patients and their families between physical discomfort, time commitment, and the emotional and psychological toll it can take. The Bianchis decided this was not the lifestyle they wanted.
FSGS is a serious condition potentially leading to kidney failure, treatable only through dialysis or a kidney transplant. Determined to keep Paul off dialysis, Lu offered to donate her kidney. They opted for a paired-organ donation, where recipient pairs exchange donors to ensure compatibility.
The probability of a spouse or life partner being a match for a kidney donation is about 1 in 35, according to government data on successful transplants. Fortunately, Lu was a match for Paul.
"When you love someone," Lu says, "you don't want anything to happen to them. You want to spend the rest of your life together and enjoy it."
Healing Together
On September 11, 2017, Lu gave Paul the ultimate gift — her kidney.
They remember the preoperative area vividly. "They took her first, and the gravity of the situation hadn't hit me yet," Paul says. "But the minute she was out of the room, everything was about her. Her life was more important to me at that moment."
The transplant was successful, but their journey wasn't over. Paul experienced recurring infections, requiring a corrective procedure. Lu's recovery took nearly a year, yet she never wavered.
"It was a blessing to give this gift," Lu says. "I didn't want him to suffer — I just wanted more time with him."
The physicians at Mayo Clinic were sincere. They allowed us a voice and were selfless, always considering what was best for the patient.
— Lu Bianchi
Their bond deepened after the transplant. They now joke about Paul developing some of Lu’s traits, like a curl of hair on the right side of his head — the same side where Lu's kidney was placed.
"We don't like to be apart," Lu says. "Even a trip to the grocery store feels too far."
Today, Paul and Lu divide their time between Sacramento and Rochester. They enjoy gardening, traveling to Alaska and their animals. They remain deeply connected to Mayo Clinic, not just as patients but as generous benefactors.
Their story has also inspired others to consider living donation.
"It takes one person to create a movement," Lu says. "Helping Paul wasn't just because he was my husband. It was because he was someone who deserved to live."