Charlie Garaventa's good deed fund
Donation protected
Charlie is a superstar and recently donated a kidney to a member in need. Both he and the recipient are doing well in recovery and they both are in our thoughts and prayers. Charlie not only gave a kidney, he used personal time away from work. This page was set up to provide a gift back to Charlie and honor him for his great deed. The goal is to give him the flexibility to use some well deserved time with his family, doing whatever activities they choose. Feel free to make whatever contribution you so choose as ALL proceeds will go to Charlie. Here is the story from our local TV station:
WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - Ingela Kirby had no idea her kidneys were failing. That's because she was in a medically induced coma for 20 days following a heart transplant. She would remain in the hospital for four months. Her new heart would eventually work, but her kidneys were shot.
Doctors told Kirby, 74, she would remain on dialysis for the rest of her life unless she got a kidney transplant.
She was put on a transplant list but was told the wait could be five years.
Then this past August, Charlie Garaventa became the answer to a prayer.
"We sort of had given up hope and he said 'I'll do it,'" Ingela said.
He wasn't a relative. He wasn't even a close friend. He was the food and beverage manager at The Country Club of Landfall where Ingela is a member.
Garaventa chatted with her often when she and her husband would come into the dining room at the club for dinner.
"I knew she wasn't feeling well and she was explaining to me that she couldn't get a match for different reasons and I said to her, 'Do you want me to get tested?" And she said 'are you serious?' and I said, 'Of course, I wouldn't have said it if I wasn't,' so that's how it all started," Garaventa said.
Ingela said she was shocked.
"Well both my husband and I said, 'Are you sure?,' and, 'You better go home and talk to your wife,' and then we cried."
Garaventa, 54, went through a series of test in September and turned out to be a perfect match.
Garaventa knows all too well what it's like to watch a loved one hope and pray for a donor. His son, Daniel, had a kidney transplant 10 years ago. Charlie turned out to be a match for his son, but thanks to an organ donor, he didn't have to undergo the surgery.
"We were blessed enough to get a cadaver up at Duke and he was only on the list for two days," Charlie said with emotion.
A kidney given by a living donor functions on average about 12-20 years. A kidney from a deceased organ donor last about 8-12 years.
Charlie is well aware that his son could need a new transplant at some point, but says he felt like this was something he had to do. His family, especially his wife Patti, supports his decision.
"I just felt I needed to pay if forward," Charlie said with tears..
Garaventa also drew inspiration from the Willie Stargell Celebrity Invitational held every year at The Country Club of Landfall. The event raises money to help local people living with kidney disease. His son, Daniel, has been honored by the Stargell Foundation for inspiring people to become donors.
Ingela's transplant is scheduled for Thursday morning. She and Charlie will travel to Duke the day before.
Wednesday, Feb. 1, ironically, is Ingela's birthday.
"I told her I had a birthday present for her, but the doctors would have to unwrap it," Garaventa said with a big smile.
WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - Ingela Kirby had no idea her kidneys were failing. That's because she was in a medically induced coma for 20 days following a heart transplant. She would remain in the hospital for four months. Her new heart would eventually work, but her kidneys were shot.
Doctors told Kirby, 74, she would remain on dialysis for the rest of her life unless she got a kidney transplant.
She was put on a transplant list but was told the wait could be five years.
Then this past August, Charlie Garaventa became the answer to a prayer.
"We sort of had given up hope and he said 'I'll do it,'" Ingela said.
He wasn't a relative. He wasn't even a close friend. He was the food and beverage manager at The Country Club of Landfall where Ingela is a member.
Garaventa chatted with her often when she and her husband would come into the dining room at the club for dinner.
"I knew she wasn't feeling well and she was explaining to me that she couldn't get a match for different reasons and I said to her, 'Do you want me to get tested?" And she said 'are you serious?' and I said, 'Of course, I wouldn't have said it if I wasn't,' so that's how it all started," Garaventa said.
Ingela said she was shocked.
"Well both my husband and I said, 'Are you sure?,' and, 'You better go home and talk to your wife,' and then we cried."
Garaventa, 54, went through a series of test in September and turned out to be a perfect match.
Garaventa knows all too well what it's like to watch a loved one hope and pray for a donor. His son, Daniel, had a kidney transplant 10 years ago. Charlie turned out to be a match for his son, but thanks to an organ donor, he didn't have to undergo the surgery.
"We were blessed enough to get a cadaver up at Duke and he was only on the list for two days," Charlie said with emotion.
A kidney given by a living donor functions on average about 12-20 years. A kidney from a deceased organ donor last about 8-12 years.
Charlie is well aware that his son could need a new transplant at some point, but says he felt like this was something he had to do. His family, especially his wife Patti, supports his decision.
"I just felt I needed to pay if forward," Charlie said with tears..
Garaventa also drew inspiration from the Willie Stargell Celebrity Invitational held every year at The Country Club of Landfall. The event raises money to help local people living with kidney disease. His son, Daniel, has been honored by the Stargell Foundation for inspiring people to become donors.
Ingela's transplant is scheduled for Thursday morning. She and Charlie will travel to Duke the day before.
Wednesday, Feb. 1, ironically, is Ingela's birthday.
"I told her I had a birthday present for her, but the doctors would have to unwrap it," Garaventa said with a big smile.
Organizer and beneficiary
Brent Brouse
Organizer
Wilmington, NC
Charlie Garaventa
Beneficiary