10/23/2023
Paul’s Kidney Journey
Paul is one of those people who fully embraces all that life has to offer. He loves people. He has many varied interests. But Paul needs your help. He’s in end stage kidney failure and needs a kidney transplant to save his life.
Paul developed kidney disease in his twenties. After his diagnosis, he was committed to doing everything he could to slow the progression of the disease. He followed a strict diet and all recommendations of his medical team. But despite his best efforts, the disease progressed.
Living with kidney failure and dialysis is hard. Paul is currently on dialysis 7 days a week, 10+ hours each time. For the last year, he has spent over 70 hours each week hooked up to a machine that is filtering the toxins out of his blood, an essential function that his own kidneys can no longer do. Can you imagine spending 70 hours each week hooked up to a machine? Dialysis has made much of the “fun stuff” of life difficult and nearly impossible. He no longer can work in his yard without becoming exhausted and taking multiple breaks. He loves the outdoors, but dialysis and fatigue have curtailed his outings.
Paul is a loving husband and father. He has been married to Patricia for over 40 years, with whom he has a son, now living in California, and an extended family including grandchildren, in Tennessee. He had a successful career as an engineer at GE working on commercial jet engines. He’s pursued an active lifestyle. Among his many interests, he enjoys travelling, cooking, woodworking, gardening, hiking, photography, history, soccer, skiing, and aviation.
A new kidney will allow Paul to resume these activities and regain a full life! He’ll no longer have to spend 70 hours a week on dialysis. He’ll have the freedom to travel and visit family in California, Tennessee and the UK. He’ll be able to ski again with his buddies at Perfect North Slopes. He can spend time outside doing yard work. He could make new memories with his wife and family.
The wait times to get a kidney from a deceased donor can be 5-7 years. Paul’s doctors and transplant team have strongly advised him to look for a living donor. Finding a living donor will help him get “off the list” sooner and on with living his life.
A donor should expect to live a full and healthy life. In fact, data shows that the life expectancy for a living donor is typically longer than the average person.
If you, or someone you know, wants to learn more about living kidney donation, or to start the testing process (covered by Paul’s insurance), please contact
Breanna Bronson
at the Christ Hospital on 513 585 1427.
You can follow his story on FB (Paul’s Kidney Journey).
Thank you for considering giving the gift of life through living kidney donation. You could save Paul’s life, or one of the 100,000 people waiting.
