Just throwin' this out...

[f6gal]

First a little history.  The VRCC is, of course, a motorcycle club.  But we're more than that... we're family.  In many cases, closer than our actual families.  
5 1/2 years ago a VRCC member (Carolyn Schmidt  ) donated a kidney to Psycho (Michael Bradford).  She was a God-send and we are thankful everyday.

Now to the point. Our good friend T-Bird is in need of a kidney.  So, I'm turning to our "family."  Hopefully someone reading this will have the desire to be that God-send for T-Bird.  I wish I could.  You can live a full and healthy life with one kidney.  

The basic qualifications to donate include:
Good physical and mental health.
BMI less than 35.
Must be free from: Diabetes, cancer, hepatitis, organ diseases, infectious diseases.
Compatible blood type (I don't know Terry's blood type).

Incompatible blood type doesn't necessarily eliminate donation, as they can do a "paired exchange," where you are compatible with another recipient that has a donor that is compatible with your recipient (and they essentially trade).  

[T.P.]

GREAT post Connie 

T.P.

[Skinhead]

What do you need to do to know if you can be a donor?

[MarkT]

Precludes me I'm afraid.  Diabetic and I'm guessing my BMI is too high.  But I'm working on it, lost 55# recently.  Down 2 pants and 2 shirt sizes, more holes in my belts and My Galco chest holster rig for the S&W 500mag had to be adjusted WAY in.  And the bathroom scale no longer goes "TILT".

And not to mention, I just might be nuts.

Good post Connie.

[DDT (12)]

Connie,

I had my prostate removed six months ago... due to an aggressive form of cancer. I have not been declared 'cancer-free' yet, so it appears I'm not eligible. I'm not scheduled for any follow-up testing until mid-October. I'm on the road right now, and I plan to remain so for another couple of weeks anyway. However, if there is a roll for this aging biker gypsy to play, I'm in! Please advise... My blood type is 'A+'.

DDT

[f6john]

I’m out too, diabetic also. Sometimes I think there are more people with diabetes than without!

[9Ball]

Same here...diabetes sucks.

[f6gal]

What do you need to do to know if you can be a donor?

If you meet the qualifications in the OP, the next step would be to contact the potential recipient's program.  T-Bird is using Vanderbilt Medical Center; their donor center phone number is (615) 936-0695 (option 2 at prompt).  Tell them you want to see if you're eligible to make a directed donation.  Here's a link to their website: https://www.vanderbilthealth.com/transplant/50306.  

You could also contact Carolyn, she's been through it all and is also very involved with Donate for Life in Michigan.  Once the ball gets rolling, you will go through a battery of tests and then a counselor interview (to determine sound mind and all that).  

The first thing is blood type.  But, as I said, incompatible blood type isn't necessarily a deal breaker, because of potential paired exchange.  

FYI, a living donor has a higher success rate and will usually last longer than a cadaver donor.

God bless you for considering!

[f6gal]

Connie,

I had my prostate removed six months ago... due to an aggressive form of cancer. I have not been declared 'cancer-free' yet, so it appears I'm not eligible. I'm not scheduled for any follow-up testing until mid-October. I'm on the road right now, and I plan to remain so for another couple of weeks anyway. However, if there is a roll for this aging biker gypsy to play, I'm in! Please advise... My blood type is 'A+'.

DDT

Prostate cancer is usually one of the least invasive cancers and they can usually get it all, if caught early enough.  Praying that you come back cancer-free.  The waiting list is much longer for a kidney than for a heart (just because there are far more people that need a kidney).

[rainman]

I’m out too, diabetic also God know if i could he would already had it.

[Reb]

I believe I qualify

Form submitted, fingers crossed I match....


My kidney is liable to turn Terry into a PBR drinking, Goldwing riding wild man   

[Carolyn Schmidt]

What do you need to do to know if you can be a donor?

Hi,

Sorry for the delay in my post. Site was down when I tried yesterday.

To be a donor you need to be willing to help another. Understand the surgery is no cake walk but know you will heal, and another person gets a chance at living.

If you have the desire to help T-Bird make the call to the donor team at the number given by Connie in another post. Like Connie mentioned, if you can’t be direct donor to T-Bird you could possibly be a part of paired team if you are found healthy enough for donate.

Every person who is living donor has a very different story. Ours is unique in the fact that Michael lives in AZ and I live in MI. So much of our story is about logistics. All the stuff in between is medical testing, juggling job and family life.

Michael's insurance paid for my surgery. I did have to take medical leave, use my work disability and some of my PTO for the 6 weeks. Do I regret my decision to give Michael one of my kidneys? Absolutely, positively without a doubt I have NO regrets.

5 ½ years after our surgeries I am healthy. I do need to take care of myself, like we all should by eating right and exercising. I do drink a lot of water every day. I see a kidney Dr. once a year to ensure all is good.

I would strongly recommend anyone interested in living donation read everything you can get your hands on. Be informed. The Kidney Foundation, Mayo Clinic and United Network for Organ Sharing. All these websites have information about living donation. The facts can be overwhelming. If I had not been well information when I went to Mayo Clinic to begin my medical testing I would have been scared and questioned my decision after the visit with the first person I saw, my patient advocate. Pretty certain his job was to make sure I understood the facts. However, armed with information and faith that God had already giving be the peace over my decisions, everything worked out.

In my week at Mayo I saw a patient advocate, social worker, donation nurse, kidney Dr and surgeon along with a battery of tests.

I’m happy to talk with anyone who has questions about the process for me. PM me and we can make the connection and talk.

As Connie mentioned I work with the Gift of Life Michigan, a coalition of Donate Life. I get the opportunity to talk with people about why it’s important to be on the donor registry. Have had the opportunity to speak before groups about my experience as a living donor.

I owe T-Bird a thank you for me being involved with Gift of Life because he was very active in TN by going to the DMV to talk to people about being on the registry. It was his story along with Michael’s and my story that got me motivated to be involved.

One of the things I hear most common in folks not on the registry is no one would want their organs there too old, they have this and that wrong with then, or a dr told them that can’t be on the registry. I’m here to l say you CAN be on the registry. There is nothing to keep you from it. If you desire to help another make the decision and sign up. When you die the medical professionals will make the decision on what can be use. Know the percentage of whole organs used is very low. However, up to 75 people can benefit from one life through organ, eye and tissue donation.

National stats:
113,000 men, women and children are waiting for life saving organ transplants. Think of a large football stadium filled.
Every 10 minutes someone is added to the list
22 people die every day waiting
82% of those waiting needs a kidney.

[T-Bird]

Wow!!!
I just read this and am blown away!!
I want to thank you Connie, for doing this...but, since I'm in need of a heart also, the transplant team wants to get a deceased donor (Brain Dead Only). They will do both surgeries a day apart, first the heart then the kidney the next day. Although this is the first course of action, it could come to the point where I may have to have a kidney first to hold me till I can get a heart. They are monitoring my kidneys every week. Preston, don't let this keep you from giving a gift of life to another person in need. I Thanks again everyone for their loving support!
T-Bird

[f6gal]

Wow!!!
I just read this and am blown away!!
I want to thank you Connie, for doing this...but, since I'm in need of a heart also, the transplant team wants to get a deceased donor (Brain Dead Only). They will do both surgeries a day apart, first the heart then the kidney the next day. Although this is the first course of action, it could come to the point where I may have to have a kidney first to hold me till I can get a heart. They are monitoring my kidneys every week. Preston, don't let this keep you from giving a gift of life to another person in need. I Thanks again everyone for their loving support!
T-Bird

I thought that may be the plan.  However, IMHO, if it gets to the point where you are close to needing dialysis, you should do the kidney first.  For some reason, kidney transplants do better when the person has not had to be on dialysis.  If Reb or Skinhead are willing, they could get all the testing done and be ready to go if needed.  Talk to your team, if they know you have a willing live donor, they may want to alter their plan.  

[f6gal]

I believe I qualify

Form submitted, fingers crossed I match....


My kidney is liable to turn Terry into a PBR drinking, Goldwing riding wild man  

God bless you Reb!!  Terry already has the wild man part down.  PBR and Goldwing?  No so bad... Michael had to start peeing sitting down.  

[Carolyn Schmidt]

I believe I qualify

Form submitted, fingers crossed I match....


My kidney is liable to turn Terry into a PBR drinking, Goldwing riding wild man  

God bless you Reb!!  Terry already got the wild man part down.  PBR and Goldwing?  No so bad... Michael had to start peeing sitting down.   

I understand Michael is more domestic; I think he's prettier too. Patrick says he now has a strange attraction to him

[f6gal]

I believe I qualify

Form submitted, fingers crossed I match....


My kidney is liable to turn Terry into a PBR drinking, Goldwing riding wild man  

God bless you Reb!!  Terry already got the wild man part down.  PBR and Goldwing?  No so bad... Michael had to start peeing sitting down.   

I understand Michael is more domestic; I think he's prettier too. Patrick says he now has a strange attraction to him

And he does the shopping!!   

[f6gal]

I believe I qualify

Form submitted, fingers crossed I match....


My kidney is liable to turn Terry into a PBR drinking, Goldwing riding wild man  

God bless you Reb!!  Terry already got the wild man part down.  PBR and Goldwing?  No so bad... Michael had to start peeing sitting down.   

I understand Michael is more domestic; I think he's prettier too. Patrick says he now has a strange attraction to him

Michael says he feels a little tug in that vicinity when Patrick is around.