Our journey started in mid- January 2015 when I was first admitted to Intensive Care at North York General. My wife, Shelly, found me on the floor in the bathroom – somewhat delirious – claiming that I was fine and just needed to go back to bed.
Fast forward a few months, I was back at work but feeling somewhat sluggish and always exhausted. I would often get dizzy and loose my balance when standing. Blood tests revealed falling levels of Hemoglobin[*] which, coupled with erratic blood pressure readings, are symptomatic of chronic kidney disease (CKD). By November of that year, I was no longer able to continue working.
Since that time, I’ve been seen my Hemoglobin level fall to 85 (normal level in males ranges from 138 – 172 g/L) and my Creatinine levels – a measure of the level of waste products in the blood — increase to over 340 vs. 60 – 110 mmol/L for the average healthy male.
My time is largely spent going from one medical appointment to another. Much of the burden falls on my wife, Shelly, who has become the “designated driver” and official advocate through the medical system. Shelly did step forward as a potential kidney donor and underwent all the various tests. It was with tremendous disappointment after the last test that we learned that her anatomy excludes her as a kidney donor.
Our objective now is to find a kind and generous soul to stand prepared to donate a kidney. It only takes one.
* the protein molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen to the body’s tissues
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Join us on this journey by following our blog. Check back for periodic updates on our quest for a live kidney donor. We need your help in getting the word out.
Share it with others, your social networks, friends and family — because it only takes one — one donor, one kidney, one life to save.
If you think that you or someone you know may have an interest or have some questions about the process, then please call:
St. Michael’s Hospital Living Donor Transplant Team
(416) 867-3676
Contact us: 1kidney4eric@gmail.com
Kidney for Eric 