Greg Sealy needs a kidney transplant and is looking for a possible donor.
You may or may not already know, but I have polycystic kidney disease. It’s genetically acquired, and there is nothing that I can do to change the fact that I have it. I inherited it from my mom, and she inherited it from her mom. Although I’ve technically had the genetic mutation for the disease since birth, I was diagnosed with it about 10 years ago in a routine health screening. I can’t feel that anything is wrong with my kidneys on an average day but occasionally a cyst will burst and I’m reminded of my condition. Having a cyst burst is very painful.
Because the disease is hereditary, there was no way to prevent it. And, even having it, there is no known way to slow its development aside from maintaining my general health, such as watching for high blood pressure. I’ve worked with a nephrologist (kidney specialist) for years ensuring my diet and other aspects of health match his recommendations. My doctor watches my kidney function very carefully to ensure that he can help me get life-saving treatments when they become necessary. My kidneys are at 24% efficiency now. At 20% I will be put on the list for a donated kidney. Over recent years, my kidney function has been on a steady decline; at about 4-5% over a six-month period. I expect to be under 20% functionality by the end of the year.
As my kidney function declines, I will eventually need regular dialysis treatments, typically three times a week for four hours at a time, to help my kidneys do their job and keep me alive, but a transplant would offer me the ability to live a longer, healthier, more normal life. About 15 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 would 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 braiding Grace’s hair for school. They are 6, 4, and 1, 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 like me. Time is not on our side. Some wait for years; many die while waiting. The wait time for a kidney from a deceased donor can be five, or even 10 years. However, there is another option: receiving a kidney from a living donor.
It’s odd writing this letter. There is no greeting card that mentions needing a donated organ, and there are no social rules about the topic. Asking a family member or a friend to consider donating a kidney to me is difficult, but it greatly improves my chances of getting a transplant. A living kidney donation typically lasts longer and has better function.
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 [email protected]. If you want to talk to someone who’s already donated a kidney, NKF can also help.
Right now, I’m just building a list of possible live donors so when the time comes to look for a donor (most likely in a few months), I’ll have a premade list. Thank you for taking the time to read my story. If donating a kidney to me is something you would like to consider, I would be happy to tell you more about my story and explore the process of determining if you are a match. However, I know living donation may not be right for everyone. I am hopeful my efforts will help me receive a kidney sooner and encourage others to consider helping the many people on the wait list.
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.
