In just a few weeks, I will reach a new milestone—1,000 dialysis treatments—that I have endured over the past six years. One thousand days taken away from me. At four hours per day, that’s 4,000 hours of being tethered to a machine that keeps me alive but also drains me and saps every morsel of energy from my body.
It has forced me to stop working at a young age. It forced me to curtail my drinking habits—of water that is, and it has stopped me from eating some of the foods that we were taught were healthy, like tomatoes and oranges. Dialysis patients are required to limit their intake of water and foods that are high in potassium and phosphorous. Most patients on dialysis die by their 3rd year. However, I fear not. I fear not for the supportive family I have around me—my wife, children and grandchildren. I fear not because of the life I built around my dialysis. I enjoy spending time with my wife, spoiling my kids and grand kids. I have time to learn a little Torah, and do the things a normal 61 year old should be doing. I fear not because I cling to the hope that someone will be the perfect match to save the rest of my life.
Unfortunately, as my wife might tell you, being a perfect match to me is not easy. For starters, you need to have type O blood. Those of you who remember your biology will know that O’s are universal donors but can only accept from another O. But being an O is not enough—our tissues have to be compatible, and therein lies the hard part, Ninety-seven out of 100 potential blood type matching donors will not be a suitable match for me. However, still I fear not.
I fear not because there is an organization called Renewal which helps bring together altruistic donors with suitable recipients. They help people like me find people who want to save lives. Renewal works with donors to guide them through the process—testing, counseling, support, travel and post op care. As a result, 20% of all kidney donations performed are done through Renewal.
Community member, and kidney donor, AJ Gindi has recently joined Renewal to help those in the community like me, find donors. He also works to educate those who are interested in donating. As a donor, he has firsthand knowledge of the process.
“No one in our community should be suffering on dialysis,” said AJ, “When people hear the word transplant, a sudden fear and anxiety transcends them and the initial reaction is ‘that’s not for me.’ As a donor, I can say that the fear and anxiety that one might sense is due to a lack of knowledge. Transplantation surgery is now done through minimally invasive techniques with recovery on average 7 to10 days. You literally are giving the gift of life to another person by taking about a week out of yours. To me, that’s the biggest hesed one can do.”
In a few weeks, I, along with millions of Jews around the world, will be celebrating the holiday of freedom, Pesah. We celebrate the freedom from bondage brought forth by the great miracles of Hashem. As the Israelites reached the banks of the Red Sea with the Egyptians chasing after them, they began to fill with despair. It wasn’t until one prince, Nahshon, jumped in to the sea with belief that Hashem would send his salvation, did the sea part.
I too am waiting for someone to free me from the bondage of dialysis. All it takes is one match—one individual who will be the one to set me free.
And it’s not only me, there are countless others within our community, and the Jewish community at large, that are also waiting for their one match to get their lives back. Renewal has over 230 people as young as 3 years old who are waiting.
Renewal needs your support to save my life and the lives of other fathers, mothers, and children who are waiting for their perfect match.
May Hashem provide salvation to all those in need and bring forth the final redemption in our days, Amen.
To get tested, please email: R110@renewal.org or call: (718) 431-9831.
