JEFF kaine'S STORY
Still Fishing for a Miracle
Learn more about Jeff's story and how you can help him find a miracle.
Learn more about Jeff's story and how you can help him find a miracle.
Talk with Jeff's Living Donor Transplant Coordinator - Sarah Heywood.

My name is Lisa, and I’ve made this website on behalf of my brother, Jeff Kaine. Jeff and I were born and raised in Maine. We have a very small, but close-knit family. Jeff still lives in Maine, and I currently spend my time traveling back and forth between North Carolina and Maine.
Jeff is a 58-year-old man who would normally be the one telling his story, but dialysis has taken a heavy toll on him. The exhaustion, brain fog and loss of concentration make it difficult for him to focus the way he used to. So, I’m helping him share his story. Jeff needs a kidney transplant and the person who could save his life might be you or someone you know.

Jeff has always been at home in the river. An avid fly fisherman, he’s the kind of person who wades into cold water, studies the current, and patiently waits for the perfect moment. Fishing isn’t just a hobby for him—it’s part of who he is.
Today, kidney disease has taken much of his strength, and long days in the water are no longer possible. Instead, his life revolves around dialysis treatments that keep him alive but limit the freedom he once had. Still, Jeff remains the same at heart—patient, hopeful, and holding on to the dream of returning to the rivers he loves.

Jeff was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) in 2007. For years, the disease progressed slowly, but in the past year his health declined rapidly—bringing fatigue, weight loss, and serious complications.
By late 2025, he began dialysis, spending long hours each day connected to a machine. Complications followed, including hospitalizations and a life-threatening buildup of fluid around his lungs. Despite everything, Jeff continues to fight.
A kidney transplant offers him the chance to reclaim his life—to get back to the water, to his independence, and to the future he’s been waiting for.
Learn more about starting the screening process for Jeff Kaine. You do not need to be an exact match or even live in the Maine area.
Read the latest updates here on Jeff and his journey for a new kidney
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