PHOTO BY BRENNA WHITE / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
DONOR FOUND … Brittany Sharp and her son Arlo Pannell share exciting news from Pioneer, Ohio. Arlo has found a kidney donor and is scheduled for his life-changing surgery in early June, 2026.
By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
After nearly two years of uncertainty, medical challenges and unwavering hope, Arlo Pannell’s family has received the news they had been praying for — a kidney donor has been found.
Born on June 17, 2024, Arlo entered the world already facing extraordinary odds. Diagnosed in utero with severe kidney complications, his family traveled across multiple states searching for answers. Arlo’s fight began immediately.
Weighing just 3.8 pounds at birth, he was too small to receive dialysis at the hospital and was transported to Chicago, where he underwent the procedure just three days after being born. Since then, Arlo has relied on dialysis daily — a routine that has shaped nearly every aspect of his young life.
Now approaching 2 years old, Arlo continues to receive dialysis each night at home while traveling to Cincinnati for his monthly appointments. His mother, Brittany Sharp, provides round-the-clock medical care for her son.
The search for a kidney donor began around Arlo’s first birthday. Family members and loved ones all stepped forward to be tested, but no match was found.
The family’s search for a donor had come heartbreakingly close to success before. One family friend advanced through nearly the entire screening process, with test after test confirming she could be a match.
She even traveled to Cincinnati, meeting with Arlo’s medical team as hope grew stronger that she would be his donor.
For a moment, it felt like the end of a long and difficult search was finally within reach. But in the final stage of testing, the process fell apart. One last result came back negative, just barely missing the criteria needed for a successful transplant.
After weeks of optimism, the family was left back at the beginning, grappling with disappointment and uncertainty once again.
Not long after, Arlo faced another setback. He was hospitalized with RSV, requiring a stay in the Cincinnati hospital once again.
When he was finally discharged on March 26, 2026, Brittany and Arlo returned home to recover. The pair were hoping for a quiet stretch after months of emotional highs and lows when the phone rang. On the other end was a call that would change everything.
A donor had been found! Not a family member, not a friend, but a stranger willing to give Arlo a second chance at life.
“The doctor said I have some exciting news — we have a donor for Arlo! It’s a good match and we actually have a (transplant) date for you,” recounted Brittany.
“I don’t know if I heard anything else after that. I didn’t even have a thought or an idea that I was going to get a phone call,” she continued. “That never, ever crossed my mind.”
Arlo’s kidney transplant is scheduled for early June 2026. He has officially met all requirements and has been cleared for surgery.
For his family, the procedure represents more than a medical milestone — it marks the beginning of a new chapter.
“From what we read and are hearing from the doctors… it’s life changing,” said Brittany.
Following the transplant, Arlo is expected to experience significant improvements, including increased appetite, accelerated development and, most importantly, freedom from dialysis.
While kidney transplants typically last 15 to 20 years, meaning Arlo may need additional transplants later in life, his family remains optimistic.
“Out of all the problems you could have, Arlo didn’t have. We didn’t have any of the normal struggles you might have on dialysis,” explained Brittany.
Throughout his journey, Arlo has consistently defied expectations. His survival alone is considered remarkable, as he is among the smallest infants in the United States to successfully undergo dialysis using specialized neonatal equipment.
Community support has also played a vital role along the way. Local efforts, including fundraisers and awareness campaigns, helped spread the word during the family’s search for a donor. Now, that search has ended in the best possible way.
“Being a kidney donor is the biggest thing you could possibly do for a family like mine. If you are considering it, it makes you a hero in somebody’s life,” said Brittany. “There are so many kids, families, and so many people that need a kidney.”
For a family that has faced so many unknowns, the call marked something they had not felt in a long time — certainty.
After months of searching, setbacks and waiting, Arlo’s story is no longer about finding a donor, but preparing for a future that looks brighter than ever before.
