You have likely gathered or heard that I have a problem with my kidneys by now, technically, I have polycystic kidney disease. I inherited it from my mom, and she inherited it from her mom. Although I’ve had the genetic mutation for the disease since birth, I was diagnosed with it about 15 years ago in a routine health screening. Because the disease is hereditary, there was no way to prevent it. A
nd, even having it, there is no known way to slow its development aside from maintaining my general health. My doctor and I watch my kidney function very carefully. My kidneys are functioning at 18% now and I am hoping to receive a donated kidney. If I do not get a new kidney soon, I will need regular dialysis treatments three times a week for four hours at a time to help my kidneys do their job and keep me alive. A transplant will offer me the ability to live a longer, healthier, more normal life. About 20 years ago, my mom received the gift of life from an organ donor, and I saw firsthand the life she was gifted by her donor. She was given her life back in many ways after enduring the many hours and side effects of dialysis. A transplant will allow me to continue to serve my family. I am a stay-at-home dad so my family relies on me for most everything around the house, getting the kids from here to there and caring for them daily, from wrestling with Stone and Levi to doing Grace’s hair for ballet. They are 9, 7, and 5, so it takes quite a bit of energy to keep up with them and I’m sure they have no plans of slowing down! I hope to have the ability to care for them, as any dad would, for many years to come. Finding a kidney for a transplant is not easy. There are nearly 100,000 people on the waiting list for a deceased donor kidney. Time is not on our side. Some wait for years; many will die while waiting. The wait time for a kidney from a deceased donor is estimated at 7 to 9 years for me. However, there is another option: receiving a kidney from a living donor. It’s odd writing this. There is no greeting card for organ donation, and there are no social rules about the topic. Asking a family member or a friend to consider donating a kidney is difficult, but it greatly improves my chances of getting a transplant. A living kidney donation typically lasts longer and has better function, too. You might not know a lot about living donation - I know I didn’t before kidney disease affected my life. Understandably, some people are afraid of the surgery and what living with one kidney will mean for them. Here’s some basic information about kidney donation:
• You only need one kidney to live a healthy, long life.
• Most donor surgery is done laparoscopically, meaning through tiny incisions.
• The recuperation period is usually fairly quick; generally, two weeks.
• The cost of your evaluation and surgery will be covered by my insurance. The hospital can give you extensive information on this.
• You will have a separate team of healthcare professionals to evaluate you as a living donor. Their job is to help you understand the risks and benefits and look out for YOUR best interests.
• You can also learn more about living donation on the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) website: www.kidney.org/livingdonation or by contacting the NKF’s free, confidential helpline at 855.NKF.CARES (855.653.2273) or nkfcares@kidney.org. If you want to talk to someone who’s already donated a kidney, NKF can also help. Thank you for taking the time to read my story. If donating a kidney to me is something you would like to consider, you can start the process by filling out a questionnaire at https://www.uofulivingdonor.org/ . After that, the living donor coordinator will call for more information as needed. Everything is confidential and they will help you at each step of the way. Lastly, we would ask for your prayers in this trying time. We know that God is the one true healer who walks with us through all things. Greg Sealy
