Kido Needs A Kidney

March is National Kidney Month!

Almost 90,000 Americans are waiting for a lifesaving kidney transplant. This National Kidney Month, you can help save lives by registering and sharing your decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor, and by learning more about living kidney donation. 💙💚 Read more at https://donatelife.net/donation/organs/kidney-donation/

Thank you all for the likes and follows! ❤️

Today is ! Observed every year on Feb. 14, National Donor Day is dedicated to spreading awareness and education about organ, eye, and tissue donation. Every eight minutes, another person is added to the national transplant waiting list. By sharing your story and spreading awareness for organ donation, you can help save more lives and honor those who have donated and received the gift of life. Register to become a living donor today: https://livingdonorreg.upmc.com/

Bob Kido, Sr. has been giving back to others throughout his entire life. After being diagnosed with end stage renal failure, he now needs our help! Bob has been valiantly battling chronic kidney disease since 2019 as a result of Type 2 Diabetes, and is currently on home dialysis for 8 hours per day, 5 days a week. Although the dialysis is currently working, it takes a toll on his body, and isn’t a viable long term solution. The best option for a longer, healthier, more normal life is a kidney transplant. A new kidney would also give him more time to do the things he enjoys most including spending time with his loving wife, children, grandchildren and other family and friends.

As he started the testing process for a kidney transplant in 2022, Bob was diagnosed with Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy. This chronic disease attacked his core muscles, leaving him unable to stand or walk for over six months. It also put a hold on the transplant process. Through undying faith and unwavering commitment, Bob spent countless, grueling hours rehabilitating his body each and every day until he was finally able to walk (and eventually play golf) again! As he resumed testing for his kidney transplant, a heart condition was found, which necessitated triple bypass surgery. Again, the transplant process was halted. With familiar resolve, Bob attacked rehab head on for several months and recovered. Now, two years later, he has been cleared by his doctors to resume his search for a kidney and has been reactivated on the transplant list.

However, finding a kidney for a transplant is not easy. Just ask the 100,000+ people on the waiting list for a deceased donor kidney. Time is not on their side. Some wait for years; many die while waiting. The average wait time is five years or more for a kidney from a deceased donor. However, there is another option: receiving a kidney from a living donor.

Bob’s family is starting the testing process but there’s no guarantee they will be a qualified match. In the meantime, we are reaching out for your help. Asking a family member or a friend to consider donating a kidney is difficult, but it greatly improves Bob’s chances of getting a transplant. A living kidney donation typically lasts longer and has better function. Frankly, it gives him the best chance of a longer life.

Thank you for taking the time to read Bob’s story. If donating a kidney to him is something you would like to consider, we would be happy to tell you more about his story and explore the process of determining if you are a match.

YOU CAN ALSO CONTACT BOB’S TRANSPLANT CENTER DIRECTLY at 717-231-8700 TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS OR TALK THROUGH CONCERNS.

We are hopeful our efforts will help Bob receive a kidney sooner and encourage others to consider helping the many people on the wait list.

Thank you!

dam.upmc.com