David Fingerman

I’m going to sidestep my usual rants about the subject of writing in this blog and instead write about a good friend of mine. Actually, I’m going to say very little about her, and let her do most of the writing. On September 18th, 2008, I wrote a blog “Rudy Gets a Transplant.” It’s a children’s book (yes, a children’s book) about Rudy (the cute poodle) needing a new kidney. In the book, Rudy gets his new kidney. The book is written by Stacy Waibel, a transplant recipient herself. Unfortunately, Stacy is now in need of another kidney, and using the sports vernacular, the clock is working against her. Instead about me going on about what a wonderful person she is (and she is), I’ll let her take it from here . . .

Currently there are 100,000 people on the waiting list for organ donation. 77,000 of these people are waiting for a kidney. Average waiting time for a kidney is 5 years. Startling statistics considering most of the 77,000 would not need to wait if there were more living donors. Unlike other organs almost all people are born with 2 kidneys – we only need one, so we have “a spare to share.”
Back in 2003 I attended a transplant workshop. At that time the average wait was 2 to 3 years. Now it is 5 years. This condition is very disheartening. So many people could benefit from a living donor. Studies show that a recipient who has a living donor is likely to be healthier at the time of the transplant, and the success rate of the surgery is higher. (No time delay between donor and recipient so the kidney doesn’t need to be packed in ice.) A person needing a transplant can avoid dialysis which is very hard on the body, to say nothing of the quality of life.
Recently a study was done at the University of Minnesota regarding the health status of past living donors. It indicated that living donors are healthier than the average person. Reasons include – they were in good health to begin with and they benefit from a positive feeling knowing they have saved someone’s life.
If you would like to become a living donor, please contact the University of Minnesota Transplant Center at 612-625-5115 and follow the prompts to the Living Donor Coordinator. To be a living donor one should be in good health (no diabetes, MS or Cancer).

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