Donate to Kevin's Journey Towards Transplant and Recovery

After years of missed signs and being ultimately misdiagnosed, last year I got a phone call saying I needed to immediately get to the ER; my kidneys were failing. Once nephrology was brought into the equation, it was found that I had an autoimmune disease. One that has left my kidneys, liver, and joints damaged and ultimately requiring a liver and kidney transplant.

Treatment was hard. The steroids threw my body in so many drastic directions and eventually caused my bones to weaken and fracture in at least twenty places in my vertebrae. This leaves my back hunched and me in constant pain (also becoming a short king now at 5’3”). Chemotherapy and medication are the main ways to keep the illness down and from progressing. Additionally, undergoing multiple transfusions and dialysis at 5 am three times a week before work for the majority of the year.

However, the combination of the disease itself and treatments can leave me easily fatigued and in constant pain but with no medication I am able to take to alleviate the pain. I have become disabled, using either a cane or wheelchair to get around depending on how my body wants to cooperate.

I’ve had to relearn the world around me: how to shower with a dialysis port in my chest, if certain places are easily accessible, and even how to walk independently again.

I’m currently on the transplant waitlist at Yale. I have to have my phone on at all times because the call can come any day, any hour. Then I’ll have to be at Yale in less than six hours. I have to be ready at all times.

The average wait time for a kidney alone is 5 years. Needing both a kidney and half a liver puts me in a more serious situation. More than half of people on the waitlist pass away before receiving an organ. More people join the list every year than leave it. While I know I’ll get through this, mostly from being stubborn, I do need help.

The greatest way is if you are considering organ donation, to call the transplant center (866-925-3897). Just to start, my match will have to be an O blood type (+ or -) and between the ages of 25 to 45. There are also more aid opportunities for donors than recipients. My insurance will cover the before care, surgery, and post-care for the donor but not completely for me. CT state employees would also receive six weeks of their pay.

If you are unable to donate or not interested, I completely understand. I never wanted to start a page like this because it shouldn’t be on the community to come through again and again for things that should be basic rights, but unfortunately, this is the position I’m in. I’m lucky enough to have health insurance through my job, but it doesn’t cover everything. Deductibles, copays, medications, mobility aids, equipment, gas to appointments…many of these things are not fully covered or even covered at all. There will even come a point when I do get the surgery that I will be out of work for some time and being a special education paraeducator doesn’t even cover my regular expenses let alone let me save.

This isn’t all doom and gloom. Having things and people to fight for has kept me positive and still the nerdy goofball I am. I truly love what I do now. I felt I found what I should be doing and shortly after, life threw a curveball. I have a lot more to accomplish, more smiles to make, more people to make sit through my attempts at stand-up comedy. If you are in the position to help in any way, I thank you for even taking the time to read this and considering it. Honestly, I have no idea how to properly thank you but I will always try my hardest to let you know how much I value your help…even if it is just a good laugh.

"I hate cynicism. It's my least favorite quality. It doesn’t lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen." - Conan O’Brien

All my love to you and yours

Kevin