Nathaniel Eguzouwa is seeking your help – and he needs it in a hurry.

The Katy resident – a husband and a father of five -- is urgently searching for a living kidney donor.

“I am fully approved for transplant, and my medical team can move forward as soon as a donor is found,” Eguzouwa said in his urgent plea to the Katy Times.

Eguzouwa and his family live in Old Katy in the Falls at Green Meadows community, having moved to Katy in 2019. Four of his five children currently attend Katy ISD, and the youngest began pre-K on September 8. The 46-year-old is trained as a chemical engineer and cybersecurity analyst and is currently working as a project manager.

“I was born with a condition known as sickle beta thalassemia,” Eguzouwa said. “This is a lifelong blood disorder that causes red blood cells to become rigid and sickle shaped. Over many years, these abnormal cells can block blood vessels and reduce oxygen delivery to vital organs. As a result, people with sickle beta thalassemia often experience progressive organ damage, including to the kidneys, liver, and spleen, due to chronic inflammation, repeated pain crises, and ongoing strain on the body.”

In 2014, he underwent an experimental treatment that successfully cured the disease. However, by the time of the treatment, the condition had already caused significant kidney damage. His kidney function had dropped to 40 percent. Eguzouwa began seeing a nephrologist immediately, but despite excellent care, his kidney function continued to decline. Today, it is at just four percent.

“Because of this decline, my nephrologist referred me to the kidney transplant team,” Eguzouwa said. “I was officially placed on the transplant list last year, and I began dialysis this past April. In addition to media and newspaper outreach, several family members and friends have stepped forward to be evaluated as potential donors. Unfortunately, each was ruled out due to preexisting medical conditions.“

Texas has one of the largest transplant waitlists in the country, and many families like his face long delays, Eguzouwa said in the email. “My blood type is A, and potential donors can live anywhere in the United States. All testing is free, confidential, and coordinated through Houston Methodist’s transplant network. My transplant team provided a secure screening link for anyone willing to be evaluated: https://houstonmethodistlivingdonor.org/.”

Officials at Houston Methodist West were unable to confirm or deny Eduzouwa’s request due to confidentiality policies.