AJ GINDI
WHAT IS GOING ON? THIS IS A QUESTION I HEAR CONSTANTLY. “AJ, WHAT IS GOING ON? WHY ARE THERE SO MANY NEW CASES OF RENAL FAILURE COMING UP IN THE COMMUNITY?” THE ANSWER IS THE NEW CASES ARE COMING OUT DUE TO AWARENESS. IN THE PAST, PEOPLE THAT WERE SUFFERING FROM RENAL FAILURE SAW NO WAY OUT.
A life of dialysis was a fear that no one wanted to recognize. Everyone kept their situation discreet, not wanting the word to get out. Today that has all changed. People are taking active steps to give themselves a chance at life. They are openly discussing their situation and making events to help us find a donor. In addition, many new cases are coming in from South America due to the efforts of Rabbi Galimidi from the Safra Synagogue in Aventura. In Argentina, Panama, Mexico, and Brazil it is very difficult, if not impossible, to find a live altruistic donor so they reach out to Rabbi Galimidi to assist them in the process, and he in turn arranges a meeting with Renewal. In just over one month this year we had nine cases come through his channels.
The name Renewal and kidney transplant are one and the same.
THE STAGGERING FACTS FROM THE NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION AS OF JANUARY 1, 2022
• 106,140 people are on the national kidney registry waiting list.
• 1 person is added every 20 minutes. .
• 2,500: the approximate amount of people added each month.
• 14 people die each day from kidney disease.
• 3,381 people died last year waiting for a kidney.
• 7-9 years is the average waiting time on the national waiting list
• 70% will not make it past year 5 on dialysis.
RENEWAL BY THE NUMBERS
• 345 people are on the current waiting list.
• 1 year is the average waiting time for a normal procedure without complications.
• 20% of all altruist kidney transplants in the US are through Renewal.
• 2 years old: the age of the youngest patient transplanted.
• 77 years old: the age of the oldest donor.
• 86 years old: the age of the oldest recipient from an altruistic donor (a record).
• 6 people were told last year by their doctor that they would never get a transplant. Renewal got them transplanted.
Years ago, if a community member needed a kidney transplant he would have to go on the national list and hope that one day his name would be called. Today, with Renewal at the forefront we B”H have eliminated that process.
Dialysis is a life changer. It means being strapped to a cleansing machine for 3 to 4 days a week, for 3 to 4 hours a day. For an adult, it means, no work, no free time, constantly tired, no life at home. It is virtually impossible to maintain a normal life. For a child it means no childhood.
If you would like more information on becoming a kidney donor, or if you know of someone in need of a transplant please contact AJ Gindi at 732.996.4040 or email ajgindi@Renewal.org.
AJ Gindi is the Renewal Community Advocate, stepping to the forefront in the assistance of both kidney donors and recipients through the process of kidney transplants. Transplants are both overwhelming and extremely delicate and difficult to navigate.
