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ALAN'S STORY
Living with a chronic, incurable disease is challenging every day, even on the good ones. It is a part of who you are and forever demanding of your attention. That does not stop you from living or being the best you can be, but putting your best and healthiest foot forward becomes a more difficult battle.
Alan was diagnosed at age 16 with Type 1 Diabetes. Back then, treatment was much different than what is available today with insulin pens, pumps, and meters that test your blood without pricking your finger every time for a read. Alan followed the rules, watched what he ate and lived his life to the extent he could while constantly dealing with his diabetes.
He worked passionately as a healthcare attorney for decades, serving his clients with dedication and determination while distinguishing himself and his career in law. His path crossed with his wife Andrea decades ago, after working on the same case. He is a step-father to two and now, very proudly, a step-grandfather to two adorable children that constantly make him smile. Alan has a tender spot for animals and is almost always carrying a spare dog treat or two to make some lucky pups day.
As the years passed, so did the progression of Alan's diabetes. Today Alan has stage IV kidney disease and is in need of a kidney transplant. This is a daunting milestone. Despite trying to make the best of his condition and live life to it's greatest potential, his quality of life has greatly diminished. His kidneys are failing with each passing day and the inevitable need for dialysis looms.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
There are two ways of obtaining a kidney. The first is from a cadaver donor, which means you are put on the List and wait your turn until a matching cadaver kidney becomes available. This process typically takes 5-7 years, if you are lucky. While you wait, you are coping with dialysis and the slow but inevitable draining away of your quality of life. Dialysis is a time consuming process that is not only constraining on how you spend your days, but also greatly impacts your diet and puts additional strain on your heart. To be put on the List gives you hope for an eventual transplant, but the toll dialysis can take on your body provides an additional challenge to overcome while you wait for a match.
Alternatively, there are living kidney donors. We as humans have two kidneys. Many individuals can function fully and live normal lives with just one. Having a living kidney donor helps reduce years of waiting on the List for your potential match to become available as well as watching your quality of life slip away as you wait on dialysis. This in itself is a true gift.
On behalf of Alan, I am reaching out to ask for your help. To share Alan's story in hopes of helping us find someone willing to give Alan the gift of life and share their spare kidney. Whether you are willing to get tested to see if you are a compatible donor, or share Alan's story with your friends and family, your help in getting this message out is greatly appreciated and could truly help Alan survive.
We hope through creating this page and sharing this story with our friends, family, acquaintances and new connections, there is someone out there who can help save Alan's life. Please know that his immediate family was consulted and are not suitable candidates, hence the nature of this outreach.
Please contact donorsforalan@gmail.com if you are interested in learning more about being a donor for Alan.
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