04/20/2017
LIVING DONATION TO FAMILY and FRIENDS
Dear Friends,
Some of you may know that I have kidney disease. Over the time, my kidney disease gotten worse causing my kidneys not to work well enough to keep me alive, This what I am facing now, and my treatment options are limited to dialysis treatments or a kidney transplant.
Getting regular dialysis treatments, seven (7) times a week for 10 hours and thirty minutes at the time, will help my kidneys do their job and keep me alive, but a transplant would offer me more freedom and ability to live a longer, healthier,more normal life. A transplant would also give me more time to do the fun things I enjoy most, like spending time with my grand daughter’s.
Let me tell you about myself:
My name’s Michael Passy, 52 years old. I am married to a wonderful women Elena. We meets each other in 1987 and we have been married for 27 years. We have three (3) children. Stefanie 27 years; Maria 24 years and Pascal 14 years.
Stefanie has three wonderful children ( my grand daughter’s) Gabriella 6 years, Makayla 4 year and Madison 1 year and nine months. Maria is in the U.S.Army - National Guard. Pascal is High School Student.
My wonderful wife Elena, she is the only who supports me and my younger son. Since I was diagnosed with an End Stage of Renal Disease (ESRD), she started working 12 hours 7 days a week to support and cover all our expenses. Every morning when she is living home to work it is very hard for me to see how she is suffering and how it’s difficult for her to do it, but she never says nothing and anything. I meet my wife in my second year, when I was student in the College for Industry and Pedagogic. All 25 years before getting sick we were supported each other by trying to give every of us everything, care, love and supports how we can.It is painful to see your loved one suffering, but you cannot help. In this way if I will have a second chance to get kidney donate will be grateful and appreciated.
However finding a kidney for transplant is not easy. Just ask the +100000 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 average wait time is 5(five) years or more for a kidney from a deceased donor.However there is another option receiving a kidney from a living donor.
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 afraid about the surgery and what living with one kidney.
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 interest.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I f 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 for me. You can also contact my hospital directly at (718)270-1000 ask to transfer to Transplant Department and mention my Name Michael Passy.
However, I know living donation may not be right for everyone - but you can still help!
Consider being an organ donor after death and also, help me by sharing my story with everyone you know. At the very least I want to bring awareness to kidney disease and living donation. I am hopeful my efforts will help me receive a kidney sooner and encourage others to consider helping the many people on the waitlist.
Thank you
