James' New Kidney Journey

08/25/2023

I can't go a step further without acknowledging the person who was so selfless to bless me with her kidney. Sara a veteran and a member of the prestigious Kappa Epsilon PSI Military Sorority Inc. One particular day at a function that the Military Fraternity was hosting Kappa Lambda Chi, Military Fraternity Inc, I was invited to come to sell my lemonade. Sara got a cup of my lemonade before returning to run her business that was out at the function. Afterwards we talked about life and I dropped my situation of needing a kidney. Sara was moved by the story and unbeknownst to me flew to Pittsburgh to get tested. God works in mysterious ways because what happened was unprecedented. She was a total match to me. She hit me with the news and asked if I would be honored to receive her kidney. I was skeptical because people that I knew, family friends, etc didn't even offer or try, with the exception of two of my closest friends, this woman whobid barely known offered me a gift of life. I accepted but was skeptical all the way until it was time to Don the plane to Pittsburgh. Once the surgery occurred and I began to feel different I felt proud that there was truly a spirit that was true to the core. We now share a bond that can be broken, she is indeed my friend and I appreciate all that she has done. I ended up joining that prestigious Fraternity and so now you have a LoC and KEY forever. Sara, thank you. Words can't express the happiness I have, and I promise to take care of your kidney as I did the ones I had before a hereditary illness destroyed them. Imperium Sine Fine

08/22/2023

https://gofund.me/cabd827c

Hello, My name is James. I am a retired Army veteran who suffered a rare Kidney Disease wh… James Climes needs your support for Donate for Kidney Transplant

08/18/2023

August 17, 2023 marked the day that I received my kidney from my living Angel donor. As I recover from the surgery, I am thankful for my small circle. My prayer warriors and the ones who worked so hard to spread awareness about my situation. No more dialysis for me. God is great!

06/16/2022

06/16/2022

06/16/2022

06/11/2022

11 June 2022

06/09/2022

So... a rough couple of days that just happened. Allow me to paint a picture with words.

June 6, 2022. As my children were sleeping, I attempted to dialyze. I kept getting an error message on my machine to the point that the blood in my lines clotted.

While removing one of my lines, the bleeding was so profuse that it wouldn't stop for 15 minutes. Luckily one of my trusted friends was there to call 911 when I passed out from a large loss of blood.

I was taken to St. Joes Candler by ambulance and was placed in the waiting room. For over 3 hours I waited dizzy, tired and with no assistance or even a sense of urgency from the nurses who told me that there were people waiting hours ahead of me, mind you their ailments weren't more severe than mine, I guess I needed to be shot to be seen, I ended up leaving on my own accord back home, but I was off, way off.

Aside from my health and doing it by myself, as a single parent father, I have that responsibility as well. I woke up in pain, tired from the loss of blood, but I was determined to take my kids to camp which I did, but my daughter who senses everything said to me "Daddy are you OK, you don't look to well" I assured her I was ok and that I wanted her to jave a good day at camp. From there I went to my dialysis facility as I was too tired to do it at home. As soon as I walked in the door I heard a voice say "DONT YOU FALL" and before I knew it, I was in an ambulance going to the hospital again.

I went to Memorial this time, and even though it took them several hours to get me into dialysis I was able to go. Problem was that I complained about my eyes wanting to pop out of my head due to the extreme blood pressure. Blood shot eyes from corneal pressure was a testament to that. But again my friend saved the day, nit only coming and checking on me at the hospital l, but picking up my children, and getting me medicine.

I tell you what, when you have sincere great friends in the world, it takes the stress off of your shoulders. You find focus in the little things. Right now I'm better but the lack of energy is crazy.

Kidney Care is so important especially when you spend a lifetime eating right and exercising only to have a latent disease passed on by biological parents who gave me nothing but misery and heartache growing up, I'm praying each day for that kidney I need, and if I die before I get to see my children grow old, I'm going to do my best to live these moments to the fullest.

If you know anyone with an O Positive blood type and want to donate a kidney to little old me, send me a message and I can post the information for the point of contact at the facilities that I am listed for transplant at.

Thank you for reading my story, my journey, and my daily life struggles as I continue to move forward on this road to getting a kidney.

06/02/2022

05/20/2022

Let me introduce you to the machine that has been making my life a little better daily wise. The Nx Stage Hemodialysis machine. For several hours a day I used to hook up via a chest catheter line (now with needles, that I self administer). I initially started receiving treatments in a facility to train for use at home by myself.

As the daily grind goes on without a caretaker or support, I am in a different playing field. If something was to happen to me, emergency services would have a hard time getting to me. Fortunately, I have willpower on my side that when issues have occurred in the past, I'd take myself to the hospital and drive myself home.

It's important to have friends and family that would do anything to ensure your health and welfare. If you ever encounter your loved on in a situation like this, put your pride and whatever else to the side and support them. We have millions of emotions going through our minds and being alone doesn't help.

Personal shout out goes to my cousin Tina for checking up on me even though she was working, and even volunteered to bring food personally or by uber eats and sit with me to make sure I wasn't alone. Those are the small gestures that make this lifestyle more tolerable until I'm blessed with a new kidney.

05/19/2022

Hello everyone,

For those who know me thank you for taking time to check this page out. For those who don't know me, allow me to introduce myself.

My name is James Climes. I am a retired Army veteran, Father to two wonderful children, and friend to all that embody the spirit of respect and love.

I have embarked on a solo journey in attempting to procure a kidney as I deal with a chronic kidney disease known as FSGS (Focalsegmental glomerulosclerosis) which is a disease where scar tissue develops on the glomeruli, the small parts of the kidneys that filter waste from the blood.

I have currently been on this journey for almost 2 years, and let me tell you, having a good support group is vital for the process to be less strenuous. Unfortunately for me, I deal with this process alone. From visits to my dialysis facility, to doing home hemodialysis by myself, I have some supporters from far away ready to aid me at a moments notice, but no one that is in the immediate area in which I reside.

I am currently listed at 3 kidney transplant facilities: The Pittsburgh Pennsylvania VA, Birmingham Alabama VA, and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).

My blood type is O Positive and anyone interested in donating can contact the kidney transplant coordinator for more information. If attempting to see if you are able to donate with the Pittsburgh VA, you would call the coordinator Michael Peduzzi who will send you a test kit to your residence, you return it back and if given the green light to proceed, he schedules travel accommodations for you and a support person to fly from your place of residence to Pennsylvania. Lodging and a shuttle are provided from the airport to hotel to the VA. You spend a day getting labs drawn along with a team that will evaluate you to ensure that you have the best care possible and that your intentions to donate remain sound.

You are then shuttled back to the airport to return home and are notified weather you are a match for me. If you are, you are notified and again you and your support person are flown to Pittsburgh with airfare, lodging, and transportation provided. I am contacted and me and my support person are flown to Pittsburgh to have the procedure done.

Once complete you are given maximum time in the hospital and your hotel room to recover. The doctors evaluate you to ensure you are ready for discharge and to return back to your daily living. You are given all the support you may need.

The best part is that you give a hopeful man the chance to enjoy life without the hindrance of constant needles having to be stuck in my arm 4 days a week. You give this man a chance to live normal as the stressor of daily dialysis and doing it alone can set even the strongest mind into a depressive state.

Thank you for your time, your prayers and your thoughtfulness. Now let's find this guy a kidney!!

(Pittsburgh VA Transplant coordinator information
If you are willing to donate, my blood type is O Positive. Having the same Blood types in this situation is a plus. The kidney transplant coordinator can explain more in depth.

The process is detailed but easy enough to follow:

1. Call the Pittsburgh VA for Michael Peduzzi, Kidney Coordinator at 412-360-1729. Or email @ michael.peduzzi@va.gov
2. Tell him you are calling on behalf of James Climes, to see if you are a match.
3. They will send you a kit where you will have to go to a lab tech to have your blood drawn and sent to the Pittsburgh VA.
4. They will see if you are a match.

If you are a match, you and a support person would be flown to Pittsburgh, PA (at the VA’s expense) where you will be lodged (also at the VA’s expense) to have more testing done. While undergoing surgery both support persons, of the donor and recipient, will be housed in lodging (paid by the VA) until the full recovery phase is complete (estimated 10-14 days). The donor and recipient will be housed in the hospital and then moved to the lodging once cleared by the surgeon and team. Once fully recovered and safe to return home, you will be notified. )

Birmingham VA Kidney Transplant coordinator
Chireta Williams phone number: 205-933-8101, Ext. 334533
Email: Chireta.williams@va.gov

Medical University of South Carolina
843-792-6100