Have you ever wondered how you can say thank you for your service in a really unique way? One person out there; one in a million+++ could have the very opportunity to say thank you, and save the life of a soldier in need.
WANTED: A Person with Type “O+” Blood to be a Kidney Donor for a Soldier
Soldier “A” – a highly respected soldier with over 2 decades of service to America, is in need of a kidney. He has Polycystic Kidney Disease and has been placed on the national donor waiting list, however this wait is over 5 years long and he will need a kidney in the near future hence the search for a living donor.
For privacy issues at this time, he does not wish to have his name known. His family realizes the need to make this information public to assist in locating a potential living donor, so this request is being made through the military community for help. His wife is a member of the milblog and national military support community. Soldier “A” has a Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal (x3), Army Achievement Medal (x2), the Iraq Campaign Medal and a Combat Action Badge among his many service awards.
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is an inherited disorder in which clusters of noncancerous, fluid-filled sacs (cysts) develop within the kidneys. The cysts vary in size and, as they accumulate more fluid, they can grow very large. Although kidneys usually are the most severely affected organs, polycystic kidney disease can cause cysts to develop elsewhere in the body, too. The disease causes a variety of serious complications.
He is doctoring at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota as this clinic ranks in the top 2 in the nation for kidney disorders in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings. Mayo Clinic in Minnesota offers up-to-date diagnosis and treatment options for adults and children who have polycystic kidney disease. Mayo’s Minnesota location has one of the world’s largest groups of practicing nephrologists (kidney specialists), including a research group devoted to the study of polycystic kidney disease.
Having type 0+ blood is the first step tested in the process from the convenience of your community clinic. The blood work is then sent back to Mayo, where HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) matching determines how well your tissues match the recipient and, therefore, reduces the chance of rejection. Generally, HLA matching looks at six primary antigens. A perfect match is sometimes referred to as a “six out of six.” A zero match is “zero out of six.” After that, Mayo contacts you about the level- if it is high, then it is your choice if you want to continue with the next level of testing at the Mayo Clinic and this soldier and his family are not involved with the process at all.
A person can lead an active, normal life with only one kidney. Studies have shown that one kidney is sufficient to keep the body healthy. After recovering from surgery, a donor can work, drive, exercise and participate in sports, though contact sports are not recommended. A donor can continue in all types of occupations. Also, being a donor does not impact a person’s ability to have a child.
If you are interested in becoming a donor please contact: SoldierDonorAK4SA@gmail.com or private message on Facebook. (if the link does not work, as it is attaching to the VG link this is the full url: www.facebook.com/AKidney4SoldierA).
If you are not “0+” but would like to make a difference in this soldier’s life, the family is requesting knee-mail. Say a prayer now and again for their journey- it will make a difference.
This reminds me of the Star Thrower aka the Starfish story (by Loren Eiseley) — you made a difference to THAT ONE!
While walking along a beach, an elderly gentleman saw someone in the distance leaning down, picking something up and throwing it into the ocean.
As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, picking up starfish one by one and tossing each one gently back into the water.
He came closer still and called out, “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”
The young man paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”
The old man smiled, and said, “I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?”
To this, the young man replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”
Upon hearing this, the elderly observer commented, “But, young man, do you not realise that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!”
The young man listened politely. Then he bent down, picked up another starfish, threw it into the back into the ocean past the breaking waves and said,
“It made a difference for that one.”
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Sent an email. The Facebook link doesn’t work, however. I am extremely interested in helping, and I’m the right blood type.
http://www.facebook.com/AKidney4SoldierA
I am.O+ and willing.to.donate. please feel free to.contact me.if you choose.
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