A HOLIDAY GIFT OF LIFE...

HELLO FRIENDS. I HOPE YOU WILL TAKE A MOMENT TO READ THE FOLLOWING EMAIL SENT BY MY BROTHER-IN-LAW, GABE TO OUR FAMILY. I'M PASSING IT ALONG IN HOPES THAT SOMEONE WHO MAY HAVE CONSIDERED LIVING ORGAN DONATION WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HELPING EVE BY CALLING JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL TO SEE IF THEY ARE QUALIFIED TO BE CONSIDERED A LIVING DONOR FOR HER. PLEASE READ...

I don’t normally do this but these are frightening times. As many of you may know, my wife Eve was fortunate enough to have some extra special, compassionate folks not only donate a pancreas but have also gone above and beyond by donating to her a life-saving living kidney. She has done well for the last 12 years with these precious organs but now she is in need once again of a kidney. She can get a donor kidney by being activated on the cadaveric kidney list but the doctors at Hopkins say her chances of survival increase enormously with a living kidney and lessen her chances of going on dialysis. One of the transplant staff suggested I send this email to see what may become of it. So, to that end, we are asking if there is anyone out there that might be interested. If so, I have listed the requirements and procedures to follow below. There is no need to let us know until you are confirmed by Hopkins. Don’t worry about if you are not the same blood type as her, as the transplant staff can take care of that. I mentioned to Eve that I could do the same but she wasn’t too fond of me(the primary caregiver) going under.

 Any potential LD candidates should call directly to the living donor team at Johns Hopkins Hospital(410 614 6604) to start the process. Things that raise red flags: some cases of high blood pressure (depends on the number of meds they are on as well as their race), 2 or more kidney stones in the past, frequent urinary tract infections, Hepatitis B or C, HIV+, some cancers, some heart conditions (like bypass surgery, etc), and a BMI (body mass index) no more than 35. We prefer too that they have health insurance.

 When potential donors call in, the intake person will do a general questionnaire. If all's well, they will get a Rx to start the process w/ Phase I testing (to get a blood type and tissue typing). They alone will be given those results and decide whether they would like to move FWD if they are a living donor candidate. Phase II is next w/ all the needed testing which can be done wherever they live (labs, other testing as per the donor team). Once those are successfully completed, Phase III is a visit to Hopkins for a formal evaluation. Then "we" go to transplant- Phase IV. Laparoscopic donation is the expected standard. Open nephrectomy is still done in some cases but rarely.

 All testing ordered as part of the living donor work up is covered by Hopkins and reimbursed by Eve's insurance @ the time of transplant. So they incur no charges at all. We also have follow up care for the living donors as well.

 A living donor is always the best way to go especially since everything is scheduled and easily predictable. Not like getting a call for a deceased donor any time of the night or day.

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS MY FAMILY MEMBER AND I CAN THEREFORE ATTEST TO THE TRUTH IN THE CONTENT. IF ANYONE WISHES TO DOUBLE CHECK, YOU MAY WANT TO GOOGLE THE NAMES IN THIS POSTING WITH MY LAST NAME AND YOU WILL SEE THE INVOLVEMENT IN THE TRANSPLANT COMMUNITY. ALSO, PLEASE KEEP EVE AND GABE IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!

LOTSALUV AND HOLIDAY WISHES,

RONDA