A hemodialysis machine, used to physiologically aid or replace the kidneys in renal failure (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Unfortunately, Alan’s kidney function deteriorated to about twelve percent–the point where dialysis is indicated. Transplant results improve if no dialysis occurs, so our five year wait shrunk to a matter of weeks. My brother roofs. That means he spent …[ read more ]

Within a week, as promised, we had the initial results of the typing. The first measure–blood type. Prior to the “Results Show,” the DeFord audience had elected Bob by a vote of 5-1 (guess who had been the lone dissenter?). Only those with A+ blood needed to apply, as that matched Alan. Only Art and …[ read more ]

Alan and family today After the phlebotomist took vial after vial after vial of blood, I returned to my siblings in the waiting room, Here I discovered the problems of leaving my brothers and sisters unattended while the vampire (aka phlebotomist) emptied my blood. They read the information about organ donation that Mt. Sinai thought …[ read more ]

Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) On a hot, humid Tuesday morning, five of us piled into my sister’s Suburban and headed to Mount Sinai for our initial screening. Without a long wait in the outer office, Susan Siriwatana, our case manager, ushered us into her office. Every transplant has …[ read more ]

My family: Alan far left-back–I’m three to the right of him. A dear friend currently faces failed kidneys –something that happened to my brother, Alan, about ten years ago. In honor of my friend and her quest to find new kidneys, I’d like to take some time to chronicle my own path as an organ donor . My …[ read more ]