COLUMBUS, Ohio — The National Kidney Foundation calls kidney disease the under-recognized public health crisis. The organization finds kidney disease ranks as the eighth leading cause of death in the United States and claims more lives each year than breast or prostate cancer.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in seven adults is living with chronic kidney disease, but 90% of them do not even realize they have it, since symptoms often do not appear until advanced stages.

Since learning about his own diagnosis, Brandon Talley works to educate others to help them avoid following in his footsteps, while searching for someone willing to help him as a living kidney donor.

Building muscle is one way the man known in his south Columbus community as “Mr. Talley” keeps us his image.

“It’s like taking that movie star Hollywood thing and then adapting it to your personal life,” he said.

Something he said is not accomplished by glitz and glamour, but grit and a grind.

“I don’t look sick,” Talley said. “I don’t look like I need a transplant. I don’t look like I need help.”

Talley gains strength to fight for his health inside the Schiller Community Center weight room.

“I went into dialysis in shape, left dialysis in shape,” he said. “So it was a lot easier for me to get my numbers, get my labs, maintain a steady number of kidney function.”

His hard work paid off. After three years on dialysis, he received a kidney transplant from a deceased donor last October. But the 45-year-old is now battling a rare kidney disease called focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) that damages the organ’s function, which can lead to kidney failure.

“Where now the search is looking for a living donor, which will take care of some of those issues that the rejection is having,” Talley said.

He takes his search outside, walking two laps around Schiller Park. He said he wears several layers to prevent an infection in the second-degree burns he received from shingles. The top layer is always a sweatshirt with a silent plea printed on front and back: Mr. Talley Needs a Kidney. Can You Help? Call (614) 293-6724.

“This is the number to the actual kidney transplant center here at Ohio State,” he said.

Steps he takes every day armed with a dozen fliers.

“I spend all the loose change in my car and in the couch and in my house getting prints of these every day,” he said. “So I try to at least pass out 12 a day.”

He shares his story in hopes of saving a life.

“Approaching people, you have to have a certain look about yourself and that’s eye contact and confidence,” Talley said. “Not disappointment. Because some people can say, ‘No.’”

The father of three shows no signs of stopping. He knows his kids are counting on him regaining his health.

“My son is kind of like, ‘Dad will be okay,’” Talley said. “He always pulls through. So that’s one of the inspirations and strengths that gets me to keep going.”

After teaching for more than two decades at Siebert Elementary, Talley’s health forced him to leave. He now spends most of his time raising kidney awareness.

Some of his family helped set the scene for a recent event.

“If I can give my cousin a kidney, I’ll give him a kidney,” said Talley’s first cousin Tiquilia McCauley while smoothing out a plastic tablecloth.

Talley invited his neighbors in the community for some food and education about dialysis and kidney disease from people living through the experience.

“The physical, the mental, and the spiritual breaking it does to your body,” Talley said about dialysis.

He introduced one of his former students who at age 22 is now facing a similar struggle.

“Nobody woulda knew unless I told them,” Tianna Jobe said. “Still today, you probably don’t think I have it, because I look pretty normal.”

But Jobe said she is in search of a living kidney donor for a transplant. A fate Rebekah Heidell, 16, said is also in her future after inheriting her father’s kidney issues.

“For me, it’s not very much a daily, like, oh my kidneys hurt, or something,” she said. “It’s more just like living and anticipating. Like, I’m probably gonna have a kidney transplant.”

Sharing their personal pain in hopes someone will share a piece of themselves and give the gift of life.

“You never know who you motivate,” Talley said. “Who you meet just by, you know, the journey. The journey is rough and it’s hard, but I’ve come to the agreement with myself to enjoy this journey.”

To be a living kidney donor, you must be older than 18 and in good health. You can direct your organ to a specific person or help someone you don’t know who’s on the transplant waiting list.

The process is completely voluntary and you can learn more on the National Kidney Foundation’s website, kidney.org.