Help Dave Bora Find A Matching Kidney Donor
BACKGROUND:
Dear Donor:
Your timing could not be better. I've been hoping to meet you, particularly as I have had to mull over questions relating to my mortality. Family, friends, and community mean the world to me. Within one or the other of those categories, I have spent my life trying to share love, cultivate harmonious relationships and build a strong community.
That has been my life's purpose and as my family grew, each generation deepened my love for them; as friendships lengthened the bonds became more intense and as my community expanded I was proud of its unity. All these areas demonstrate where I have focused my energy over the years, but now I have zeroed in on ONE very huge fight. It's a fight for my life against a formidable foe named chronic kidney disease (CKD).
It's killing me. Anybody who knows me knows that I have no intention of merely laying down my life, but rather giving it everything I have to remain alive. That is why I set up this campaign with the utmost HOPE that you would read it and understand how much I need your help. I need you to please be my altruistic, lifesaving donor. Will you help me? Will you get tested on my behalf to determine whether or not we are compatible matches? Please, will you help me?
Once I received my kidney transplant, I want to have a productive life to help and serve others in need as well by supporting people less fortunate than I am. If you serve as my lifesaving donor, I will have immense gratitude to you and have love and my highest respect for being such a generous and compassionate person. I will always wish you well and you will forever be a part of my family.
Statistics show that there is no reduction in the life expectancy of people who become living donors. Scientists proved that human beings can live their lifespan with one healthy kidney. Last year several thousand people chose to be living donors, more than 6000 people said YES to being a lifesaving donor. They are the heroes among us who have saved countless lives of people who, like me, would have died without their selfless action. One donor said after recovering from her procedure that it was the proudest thing she'd ever done in her life and if she could do it again, she would in a heartbeat.
She and the many other humanitarian donors know that the procedure is performed using laparoscopic incision which leaves a small mark and requires only a few days recovery time until they're back on their feet. The procedure is deemed medically safe, so please say you will take action to help me. If you leave a message below where I can reach you, I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
What is your blood type?: O
Name of Transplant Center(s): UCLA, UCSD, Mayo Clinic (Phoenix, AZ), Medical City , Fort Worth TX, Banner Univ Medical Center, Tuscan, TX
Kidney Transplant Center Address: Ronald Reagan Center Los Angeles, CA, Mayo Blvd, Phoenix, 8th Ave Ft Worth, TX
Kidney Transplant Coordinator's Name: Fernandez, Krystle, UCLA, Kayleigh- Medical City Ft Worth, Shannon Long, Mayo Clinic
"A generous person will prosper, whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." - Proverbs 11:25
Sincerely,
Dave Bora
DAVE'S NOTE:
Hello,
Thank you for expressing interest and showing your support of my need for a living kidney donor.
I would like you to know that the process of living kidney donation is safe, and if you or someone you know would like to donate, then please send me a message (below). Thanks again!
Thank You,
D. Bora
Facts About Living Kidney Donation
A minimally invasive procedure for kidney removal has helped increase the number of donations by living kidney donors in the past 10 years. Laparoscopic nephrectomy requires only a few small incisions and a shorter recovery time.
Blood type: O
Name of Transplant Center: UCLA
Kidney Transplant Center Address: 200 UCLA Medical Plaza, Suite 565. Los Angeles, CA 90095
Video Testimonials:
Dr. Jennifer Verbesey of MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute discusses kidney transplant and the nation's largest living donor kidney matching program.
Mayo Clinic emphasizes living donor kidney transplants as the best option for patients. Martin Mai, M.D., nephrologist at Mayo Clinic offers information about living donation, statistics, including the fact that living donor kidneys last longer. Half of living donor kidneys transplanted today will still be functioning 25 years from now, whereas half of cadaveric kidneys will fail in the first 10 years.
Learn From Ned Brooks (Living Kidney Donor):
It was an ordinary day for a retired businessman until he listened to a podcast and found that the subject resonated with him well beyond anything he could have imagined. The ramification of Ned's decision to make an altruistic donation was initially felt within his immediate family, but ultimately the ripple effects were far reaching and led to personal connections that Ned never could have foreseen.
Why You Should Consider Being A Living Kidney Donor:
The kidney transplant wait list has been increasing sharply in the US over the past two decades. Most transplants come from deceased donors — people who elect to donate their organs when they die. But there's another large source of potential kidneys: living donors. Since we have two kidneys, most people can share a kidney with other people. Most living donors give a kidney to someone they know, like a relative or a friend. But there are also non-directed living kidney donors, other wise known as altruistic donors or good samaritans. Watch this video to see the story of one such donor, Dylan Matthews.
Frequently Asked Questions About Living Kidney Donation:
Who can be a donor?
To qualify as a living donor, an individual must be in good health, free from any serious medical problems and between the ages of 21 and 60.
What are the risks involved?
Donating a kidney does not have any long-term effect on health. Donors may experience a slight rise in blood pressure and a small amount of excess protein in the urine following surgery. There is no greater risk of developing kidney failure after donating at kidney than anyone in the general population.
Are there activities that I will not be able to do in the future if I choose to donate a kidney?
In general, donating a kidney does not have any long-term effect on health. Some restrictions do apply following donor surgery, including reducing or eliminating the use of NSAIDS and avoiding any activity that may cause injury to the surgical area.
Who makes the final decision on potential donors?
Based on the evaluation results, the Transplant team (comprised of nephrologists, nurses, social workers, dieticians and other transplant specialists) decides whether or not to proceed with a living donor kidney transplant as the best therapeutic option.
Who pays for the donor's medical expenses?
The recipient's insurance covers all of the donor's evaluation and hospitalization costs; however, it does not cover lost income, transportation costs or personal expenses. The transplant financial advisor reviews the potential donor/recipient procedures and associated costs carefully prior to the evaluation.
How long will I be in the hospital?
Most donors remain in the hospital for two to three days.
What is the recovery process like?
Most kidney donors resume normal activities four to six weeks after surgery. Donors are not able to drive for three to four weeks after discharge and are not permitted to lift heavy objects. You may need assistance with daily living activities during this time.
How long will I be out of work?
Depending on the nature of the work, donors typically return to work between 10 days and two weeks.
What happens if I decide not to become a living donor?
At any point, for any reason, the evaluation process can be stopped. The recipient will remain active on the transplant list and is free to find another potential living donor.
Written Testimonial:
“If it can help someone, my goodness yes, do it. What’s the downside?” - Marc (Living Kidney Donor)
Marc is a pragmatic man. A former venture capitalist and the current executive vice president of the Steadman Hawkins Research Foundation, Marc didn’t get where he is today by letting emotion rule the day. To Marc, life is about analyzing the facts and making a decision accordingly. Nothing more. “But, there are times one has to say, ‘What the heck? Go for it,’” he says.
So when his older brother needed a kidney, Marc gave him one, and he did it without a ton of emotion or debate.
“If you see someone standing in front of a dangerous situation, you do something to stop impending disaster,” Marc said matter-of-factly. “It’s what we’re supposed to do.”
Marc’s older brother, Alexander, was diagnosed with kidney disease before he was old enough to walk. Back then, the doctors told Alexander’s parents he probably wouldn’t live to enter kindergarten. But he did. Then the doctors said he wouldn’t live to see his 10th birthday. But he did.
The ominous predictions continued, but his will to live always won out. As medications advanced, Alexander was able to control his disease without dialysis. As children, Alexander’s three brothers probably didn’t know that Alexander’s health—even his ability to live one year longer—was so precarious. “I don’t think that we were ever fully aware of that. We just knew our brother was sick,” Marc recalled.
When Marc was about 12, he remembers telling his brother he would give him a kidney if he ever needed one. Thirty-two years later, in August 1996, Alexander took him up on that offer.
By now Alexander’s kidneys had deteriorated to the point where it was clear he might not survive without a new kidney. Marc immediately asked to be tested to see if he would be a match.
“It was just a no-brainer,” Marc said. Even back then, he didn’t really see it as that big of a deal.
“This is just one of the things I’ve got going on in the next couple of weeks,” Marc recalled thinking. “I’ve got meetings, a new business venture, a new home and other things I’m doing as well.”
Marc was a match—which he always sensed he would be—and the surgery was scheduled. Before the operation, Marc was in great physical health, and his brother obviously wasn’t. For a short time, the surgery flip-flopped that. Now Marc was recovering from major surgery, but Alexander was immediately feeling better because he had a new kidney that was doing its job. But that didn’t last.
About six months after the surgery, Alexander developed complications with one of his medications, and began to have some rejection reactions. The doctors were advising that he get rid of the donated kidney and go on dialysis. He called Marc and asked for his opinion. It was his kidney, after all.
“It’s yours now. You can do what you want with it,” Marc recalled telling his brother. Together they assessed different treatment options that could be done while preserving the donated kidney. Ultimately, Alexander’s condition improved. That was nearly 13 years ago. Today, Alexander is retired and living with his wife in Florida.
Marc said he never really suffered any effects as a result of donating one kidney. An avid bicyclist and skier before and after surgery, he says nothing has changed in his life. Marc doesn’t think too often about his choice to give his brother a kidney. Occasionally, he’s reminded by the scar, but even in retrospect, the decision was simple. And he hopes others will consider doing the same.
Shocking Stats:
Chief Medical Officer (United Network for Organ Sharing) Dr. David Klassen (Nephrologist) said in a Huffington Post article, "I’ve also witnessed the results of the severe organ shortage in this country. Too often I’ve lost patients because the organ they needed did not come in time. Too many lives cut short. Too many dreams unlived." The following are a few very sobering stats which Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis patients should share as well as their loved ones:
90,000 - The number of Dialysis patients that die every year according to Renal and Urology News.
121,076 - The number of people currently waiting for a lifesaving organ in the United States, as reported by the United Network for Organ Sharing.
100,269 - The number of patients awaiting a Kidney Transplant specifically. This suggests that approximately 80.9% of the entire organ transplant waiting list is made of individuals in need of a kidney. It is important to note that living kidney donation is very safe and if found to be a match, a donor would undergo a rigorous health evaluation before donating to ensure good long-term health outcomes.
22 - The number of people who die every single day, waiting for a transplant.
4,500 - The number of Chronic Kidney Disease patients that die every year waiting for a kidney transplant, as noted by the Living Kidney Donor Network.
6 - The number of people added to the transplant wait list every hour, reported by Huffington Post.
0 (zero) - The number of major religions that are against their members donating an organ. All major organized religions in the United States are favorable of organ and tissue donation and most likely consider it an act of charity.
The Need For Living Kidney Donors:
“There are about 90,000 people waiting for kidney transplants in the United States,” says Dr. Gibney. “There are about 14,000 kidney transplants a year. Each year, more people are in need of organs and get added to that list.
So that’s one of the things that makes living donation so important is that there’s a fairly limited supply of organs. If there are friends or family members who can give, that can save lives and really extend people’s lives by years and years.”
Media:
If you would like to share Dave's story via your publication, then please send him a direct message below.