My wonderful wife, Nancy, is 69 years old. She has end-stage kidney disease and needs a kidney transplant.
Nancy has been approved for transplant and has been on the waiting list for a deceased donor kidney for almost three years. She is maintaining her health as best she can. However, the current waiting time in our area of California is about 10 years, so the likelihood of Nancy receiving a cadaver kidney is nearly impossible. For that reason I am getting the word out about her need, hoping that we can find a living kidney donor.
Although Nancy has not needed to start dialysis treatment yet, we understand that it is just a matter of time. She has had the necessary surgery to place a fistula in her arm for dialysis access so she will be ready when that time comes.
Nancy and I have been married for 41 years. We are both retired and we live in Irvine, California. We envisioned our retirement years filled with travel and other activities, not having her confined to a dialysis machine three or four days a week. That’s why I am searching for that special someone who can help. I would happily donate a kidney to Nancy if I could. However, I have my own medical issues that prevent me from being considered as a donor.
The number of people who need a kidney transplant is increasing while the number of cadaver kidneys available for transplantation is in short supply. The traditional waiting list is not a solution for many kidney patients, and I can’t risk having Nancy not survive the wait. That’s why I’m doing everything I can to help her find a living donor who is willing to offer their second kidney for transplantation. Many people are not aware that if they enjoy good health, they can continue living a normal, healthy life with only one kidney. Finding that special person who is willing to share their “extra” kidney for transplantation is what I need to accomplish to improve and extend Nancy’s life.
It’s important for a potential donor to know that the cost of surgery and associated medical care for a kidney donor is fully covered by Medicare, regardless of the donor’s age. A donor does not otherwise need to be eligible for Medicare to receive this benefit. In addition, many states, including California, have enacted a law allowing organ donors to receive paid leave from their employer. Although we, of course, are not allowed to pay anyone for a kidney donation, we are permitted to reimburse a donor for travel expenses related to their donation.
There are lots of other details a potential donor would want to know, and there is an excellent place to find some answers. Bob Dowdell is a member of our kidney support group. He recently completed a successful transplant in January of this year and is recovering well. Bob developed a website as part of his own journey to transplantation, and it has lots of helpful information for potential donors. Rather than try to duplicate the excellent work Bob has already done, with Bob’s permission and encouragement, I would simply refer anyone interested in knowing more about the transplant process to his blog at http://bobdowdellkidney.blogspot.com.
Bob’s website also includes information from a great book on the topic — So You’re Thinking About Kidney Transplantation: A Patient and Family’s Guide by Dr. Mark Wedel. The information from Dr. Wedel’s book is very helpful in understanding the overall process involved in kidney transplantation for both the recipient and the donor. I would be happy to provide a copy of Dr. Wedel’s book to anyone who would like more detail from a medical expert. Just let me now of their interest by contacting me at David Flint.
In addition to the information on Bob’s web page, the leaders of our support group have contact information for several kidney recipients and living donors who would be happy to talk with any prospective donor about their own personal experience. If that is something you would be interested in doing, please let me know and I will put you in touch with them.
O.K. now you know about Nancy’s situation. Here is my special request. I am asking for your help in finding a kidney donor for Nancy. The way you can help is to send a copy of my email or Facebook post to anyone you know who might be willing and able to help. You never know who might be a potential donor, and that’s why I’m sending this request out over as wide a network of contacts as I can reach.
Anyone interested in donating a kidney to Nancy should NOT contact me or Nancy directly as the process for screening donors is confidential for their benefit. Nancy is currently listed with the Sharp Memorial Hospital Kidney/Pancreas Transplant Center in San Diego, California. Interested donors should contact the Sharp Hospital transplant center at 858-650-5000 and indicate that they are a potential kidney donor for Nancy Flint.
Your help in sharing this information with your own personal network of contacts would truly be of service to Nancy and to me in my quest to find her a kidney donor. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and for anything you can do to help.
nancyflintkidney.com 