More than 1,100 Coloradans are on the waitlist to receive a new kidney, but donors — living and dead — are in short supply. On average, people wait 3-5 years for a kidney from a deceased donor. Living donors are the best hope for patients like Charlie Bigsby, owner of Charley's Garage in Boulder. The Toyota mechanic spends 10 hours a day on dialysis at his Longmont home.