My father needs a kidney transplant. We are exhausting all means necessary to find a living donor match for him. Please read his letter below, and please share this post as much as you can, and link to it on whatever social media platforms you use.
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Dear Friends and Family,
I write you today with a great sense of urgency. As some of you may know, I am
a kidney cancer survivor and when I was thirty-two, doctors removed one of my
kidneys to save my life. Unfortunately, thirty-five years of diabetes and the toxic
side effects of the drugs I must take to treat polymyositis, a muscle disease, have
strained my remaining kidney. Despite my continued efforts to maintain kidney
function, I am now in renal failure and my doctor has determined that I need a
kidney transplant to survive.
I have fought through diabetes, polymyositis, heart disease, and cancer, and I am
not done with my fight yet. I have too much to live for: my wife and I have raised
three children, and they have blessed us with seven young granddaughters. It is my
greatest wish to live to see them grow into the amazing young women I know they’ll
become.
Humbly, I am asking if you or anyone you know might be willing to be tested as
a potential living donor. Living donor transplants represent the best opportunity
for positive long-term outcomes, and provided I am able to find a suitable match,
my medical team is confident this surgery is my greatest chance for living a longer,
healthier life.
I realize that donating a kidney is an incredibly generous act, as well as a major
sacrifice. I wish that I did not have to ask anyone to make such a sacrifice, but I am
incredibly grateful that this option exists.
If you are interested in learning more about the Living Donor Program or are
considering being tested, please contact the Beth Israel Living Donor Team. You can
reach Tracy Brann at 617.632.9851. Based on this conversation, they will guide
you through the process should you choose to proceed with the testing. The Beth
Israel Living Donor Team can walk you through the health risks and the many other
considerations that go into this surgery, but rest assured that the medical expenses
will be paid for by my insurance.
This is truly a life and death matter, and on behalf of my family and myself, I thank
you for your time and consideration. Please do not hesitate to contact me with
any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Michael A. Mingolelli, Sr.
* * *
Thank you in advance for anything you can do to help us.
Laurie,
I have passed your Dad’s letter along to everyone I know and I will be lifting you and your entire family up in prayer. I am hoping someone will come forward and be able to help your Dad out.
Much love,
Maureen
Dear Maureen,
Thank you so much for your prayers, kind thoughts, and your help in spreading the word. It means so much to me, and I continue to be humbled by the support the online community offers.
I hope you are as well as possible!
laurie, sending you so much love today. will spread the word as best i can.
Thanks so much, Jenni!
Laurie,
Sending you and your family positive thoughts and prayers. I’ll be sure to share this with everyone I know! Best of luck to you and your family! Stay strong
Much love,
Joanna
Thanks so much, Joanna! I truly appreciate your support (and, as an aside, am totally in awe of your dedication and accomplishments in terms of your running….)
Dear Laurie,
I came to this site after following a tweet, is there by any chance you can receives donor from foreign country such as me that came from Indonesia?
If you think you think it is possible to receive foreign men to act as donor (legally), I am willing to give it to your father. I’m a 32yrs old male, in healthy condition, haven’t checked my blood type, but will check it as soon as you confirm that you are agree and able to receive me as a donor.
Please email me: abinyaevo@gmail.com
Regards,
Effendy
Thanks so much for you inquiry. We must defer all questions of eligibility to the Living Donor team, but thank you for getting in touch.
Laurie,
Please know that all my thoughts and prayers are directed towards both your Dad and the rest of your family. I know that Drew has posted on Facebook and I will spread the word to everyone I know.
Haven’t seen you in a very long time and I’m sorry that this is the correspondence we’re having. Please give my to you Mom and Dad (Marc and Mike too)
Thanks so much! It is nice to hear from you, albeit under trying circumstances, and we appreciate your good thoughts and support. Please thank Drew for us, too!
I’ve posted your link across twitter and hopefully it will be spread far from there…. keeping your family in my prayers 🙂
Thank you so much! I really appreciate the support, and will be posting more on all of this soon!
This is prob a stupid question, but can women donate to men? I’m in the uk, shall pass the letter around, can overseas people be tested? x