Suffolk Life Newspapers
10/24/2007
By: Christina M. Rizzo
Earlier this year, Hil's daughter experienced sudden kidney failure and had to go on dialysis while donors were sought. Though Hil volunteered to donate his kidney and both had matching blood types, the organ wasn't compatible. Four others also were prepared to donate their kidneys, but failed other cross-matching tests. In the end, Tristan Smith – Hil's nephew – met the requirements, donated his kidney and saved the little girl's life. Though Hil's story had a happy ending, he is aware that there are many others who are in desperate need of organ transplants. However, they struggle with navigating the transplant process.
"The kidney transplant is an absolute miracle," Hil said. Thousands of individuals have successfully received successful transplants, he explained. However, many more struggle to get organ transplant operations - specifically kidney transplant operations. "There are approximately 100,000 people a year who go on dialysis in the US," he said. While on dialysis, these people struggle to find a compatible kidney donor.
"There's a lot of red tape," continued Denise Ryan, the office manager of the National Kidney Registry. "It's very difficult for people who have kidney failure to get a transplant." To address this and other problems associated with kidney transplants, Hil founded the National Kidney Registry, a non-profit organization, in May.
"We're trying to help educate people on the ins and outs [of kidney transplants]," Hil stated. Though it is a fledgling foundation, the mission and goals of the registry are moving forward at a rapid pace. "Every living donor in the world will pass through a common registry to be matched with the most compatible recipient," according to the registry's website. "The mission of the National Kidney Registry is to save and improve the lives of people facing kidney failure by increasing the quality, speed, and number of living donor transplants in the world."
"The primary person we're trying to help is the kidney recipient," Hil said. Thousands of people will encounter kidney problems and the registry looks to educate those who are or will be in need of a transplant operation.
Finding prospective donors is the second group of people that the registry has its sights set on, Hil continued. Contrary to popular belief, there are many individuals who are willing to donate kidneys – either for the sake of a family member or altruistically, he said. Connecting recipients to donors is one of the driving forces behind the registry. He specified three types of kidney donations: direct, paired exchanges and non-direct donations.
Direct kidney donors look to give their kidney to a specific person – often a family member or friend. A paired exchange is classified as an individual who wishes to donate to a specific person, but both kidneys are incompatible. "In this case, the donor will donate to someone else in an exchange that better matches the donors to the recipients," according to the organization's website. The third group – non-direct donors – do not have a specific person to give their kidney to but donate it altruistically.
Medical hurdles are encountered when people look to participate in transplants. Though blood compatibility is beyond a person's control, individuals can maintain a healthy body and an active lifestyle to participate in a transplant operation. Once donors receive a certified physician's authorization and meet the medical criteria, they can sign up for free at the registry. From there, the organization facilitates kidney transplants and life-saving operations.
Up to 50% of the population can anticipate severe kidney problems years in advance, Hil said. Individuals who are likely to develop kidney-related problems should consider being examined by a doctor. If a physician believes a transplant would be beneficial, people can take proactive steps to safeguard their health, he added.
Though they have had a strong response in a short time period, Hil is looking for more people to get involved with the organization. Fundraising efforts are underway, and Hil is on the look out for financial donors. In the first wave of fundraising, the organization has amassed $130,000. However, Hil continued, their goal is $250,000.
"It's a wonderful thing to find out how giving people are," Ryan said.
For more information about the National Kidney Registry, visit www.kidneyregistry.org.