Randi Needs a Kidney

[ravenrose]

My name is Randi and I live in Maine. I have had kidney disease for many years. Over time my kidney disease has gotten worse, causing my kidneys not to work well enough to keep me alive. My treatments at this time are limited to dialysis or a kidney transplant. I have been on dialysis for some time now, 3 days a week for 4 hours each day, which is helping my kidneys to do their job of removing wastes, toxins, and extra fluids. But the longer you are on dialysis, the more your health deteriorates.

However a living kidney donor transplant would offer me much more freedom and the ability to live a longer, healthier, and more meaningful life. A transplant would also give me more time to do the things I love most, such as spending time with my friends and family, pets, my partner Nick, being outdoors, and helping others. Living kidney donor transplants typically last twice as long as kidneys from diseased donors.

In order to donate, living kidney donors get a careful and thorough evaluation from their own team of health professionals to see if you could be a match for me and to insure that living donation is as safe as possible for you.

You only need one kidney to live a long, healthy life. The surgery for a donor is done laparoscopically, meaning through tiny incisions, and the recuperation period is only a few weeks. The cost of an evaluation and surgery would be covered by my insurance, and you do not have to live in the same state. I am 0+, but you do not necessarily have to have the same blood type.

In order to find out more about living kidney donation, you can contact the Portland Maine Transplant Program and they will get back to you. mmc.donorscreen.org. To help you learn more about kidney donation you can go to the National Kidney Foundation's website: kidney.org/livingdonation

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. A major way you can help me is to share it with your family and friends. A second option is social media.

PLEASE CONSIDER SAVING A LIFE

With appreciation,

Randi Gelfman, P.O. Box 178, Parsonsfield, Maine 04047

[Dakotatp]

Stay positive. Both on my kidneys have been removed. I do daily hemo dialysis at home and that is what you should do. I go to a gym and exercise almost daily. I have built up more muscle mass than ever in my life. I am 50 yrs old. I can easily jog 5 miles and do 100 pushups. Eat right. I appear healthier than most people who don't have kidney disease. Good luck.

[ravenrose in reply to Dakotatp]

Dear Dakotatp, Thank you for responding to my post, and for your encouragement. I do walk as much as I can and feel healthy the days I don't do dialysis. I continue my search for a living kidney donor, spreading my story to as many places that I can. You can help me by sharing my story to your friends and family, and to social media. Thank you again, Randi