Candle shop owner lights up community while waiting for second kidney transplant
By Wakisha Bailey
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ARDMORE, Pennsylvania (KYW) — There’s something about lighting a candle — it makes you feel good.
At Cork and Candles in Ardmore, the experience goes beyond scent. It’s about joy, creativity and connection. But behind the warm glow and custom fragrance blends, owner Chris Holloway is fighting a battle most customers never see.
When you walk into Cork and Candles, you’re welcomed with what many call “The Holloway Experience.”
Retired from the mortgage industry, he reinvented himself as an entrepreneur and chandler, or candle maker, guiding customers as they mix and pour their own custom candles.
“If you like two fragrances individually, they’ll both smell nice together,” Holloway said.
The shop fills quickly. Laughter echoes. Wax pours. Wicks are set carefully in place.
But after the doors close, Holloway’s workday continues.
“I’m on a dialysis machine 12 hours a day,” Holloway said. “Most of those hours are done overnight. Some are done during the day.”
Holloway was diagnosed in 2005 with a rare kidney disease called Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis, or FSGS. He received a kidney transplant in 2016, but the average lifespan of a donated kidney is between eight and 15 years.
Now, he’s waiting for a second transplant.
His wife, Tia Holloway, is by his side every step of the way.
“I know he’s hurting. I know he’s suffering. I have to watch it every day,” she said.
It was Tia Holloway who encouraged him to share his story.
“I think it’s time you start sharing your story,” she told him.
That story reached our newsroom after CBS Philadelphia General Manager Kelly Frank and her family visited the shop, read about Chris Holloway’s journey and were moved to act.
“I would love to bring my team down here for a team-building event,” Frank said. “And I would also love to see if I can donate a kidney.”
They aren’t alone. Customers have had similar reactions — inspired not just by the candles, but by Holloway’s resilience.
When asked what comes next, Holloway keeps it simple.
“We wait for the most part,” he said. “And we pray. We pray and we go on with our lives.”
If you visit Cork and Candles, you may want to make a reservation. And there’s one rule inside the shop:
“No candle could leave here nameless,” Holloway said.
Every candle poured carries a story, and for Holloway, every flame lit is hope.
Becoming a living donor is a process that can take six months to a year. Holloway’s family created a website and fundraiser to spread awareness about his journey. He says he hopes to raise awareness — not just for himself, but for the thousands of others waiting for a life-saving transplant.
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