Press Release, Guilford Porchfest 2024

Longtime Guilford resident Mark Harris is experiencing kidney failure and is hoping that by sharing his story, he can do what he does best: educate.

Mark grew up in Madison and returned to his roots to teach English at Daniel Hand High School, where he has taught for more than 30 years—and hopes to continue teaching for many years to come. When he was recently diagnosed as being in active kidney failure, at first he was reluctant to share his story. “But then I realized that if I shared my story, I could help raise awareness of the need for living donors and educate others in the process,” he says.

A living donor transplant is the best option for people like 56-year-old Mark, whose kidney failure is a result of a genetic disease that has affected his father, his aunt, and a cousin. According to the National Kidney Registry, kidneys from living donors generally last longer and have a better chance at working right away, than deceased donor kidneys. And while there is currently a five- to seven-year wait for an organ if someone is added to the National Organ Transplant Registry, those connected with a living donor might only have to wait a few months for a match, according to The Center for Living Donation at Hartford Hospital.

More than 90,000 people in the U.S. are currently waiting for a kidney. Last year alone almost 6,000 kidney transplants were made possible by living donors: people who offered one of their kidneys to a relative, friend, colleague, neighbor, or stranger. People like Christine Sicignano, who in 2019 chose to donate one of her kidneys to fellow Guilfordite Don Pritchard, who was, at that time, a stranger to her.

“When I saw Don’s story on the local news, it was just something I felt I needed to do—even though I didn’t know him,” says Christine, an insurance broker at Guilford Insurance. “Becoming a living donor is a very personal decision. But I want people to know just how rewarding it is to be able to help someone in such a life-changing way.”

In addition to educating others, Mark and his family—wife Diana Dart Harris, a volunteer co-founder of Guilford Porchfest, and their children, Rachael and Caleb—are hopeful that he will find his living donor match.

“My dad has been my greatest supporter throughout my life, and now he needs support,” says Rachael.

Those attending Guilford Porchfest on Saturday, Sept. 7 can find out more about what’s involved with being a living donor by stopping by the info table next to the Guilford Information Kiosk. Anyone who would like to learn more about Mark’s story or be screened to possibly become a kidney donor with the National Kidney Registry, can visit nkr.org/RQV489.