Elevating kidney illness consciousness
The Nationwide Kidney Basis says about 500,000 folks within the U.S. are battling polycystic kidney illness. Amongst them: Dennis Santino of New Port Richey. FOX 13’s Regina Gonzalez studies.
NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. – March marks nationwide kidney month; a time to boost consciousness about kidney ailments, like polycystic kidney illness.
In line with the Nationwide Kidney Basis, about half 1,000,000 folks in the USA are battling it.
Considered one of them is Dennis Santino of New Port Richey.
Pictured: Dennis Santino.
The backstory:
Over a decade in the past, 49-year-old Santino went to the emergency room for intense again ache whereas on trip together with his daughter Gigi. He by no means may’ve imagined he’d obtain life-changing information.
“They got here in and mentioned, ‘we have got excellent news, and we received dangerous information,'” Santino recalled. “The excellent news is there’s nothing incorrect together with your again. The dangerous information is you may have an incurable kidney illness that we discovered, and that is what’s inflicting the ache. What they identified me with was polycystic kidney illness, which is hereditary kidney illness. Mainly, what occurs is, over time, cysts begin to kind till your kidney is totally taken over by the cysts.”
Dennis tried every part from experimental drug trials to altering his food regimen with a view to keep away from dialysis during the last ten years, however his medical doctors say quickly, he might not have a selection.
Pictured: Dennis Santino together with his daughter GiGi.
“Renal failure is 15 and beneath. I am at an eight. “So, the subsequent step for me is ultimately dialysis,” Santino added.
Despite the fact that they’re pushing for therapy he can do at dwelling, it is nonetheless not sustainable as a single father with a full-time, labor-intensive job.
“I’ve a 15-year-old daughter. I am unable to be in my room from 9 p.m. to five a.m. for the remainder of my life,” Santino mentioned.
His daughter GiGi is his fixed motivation to discover a residing donor, since no person in his prolonged household certified.
Large image view:
In December 2024, he was placed on the nationwide transplant waitlist however was suggested it may very well be years earlier than he will get a name.
“There are, I consider, near 90,000 sufferers within the nation on the nationwide waitlists to get a kidney transplant,” mentioned TGH’s Dr. Hunter Witt.
Dr. Hunter Witt is an stomach transplant surgeon on the TGH Transplant Institute, and says residing kidney donations are an important resolution.
READ: Most cancers survivor shares message as medical doctors see extra instances amongst younger males
Their program permits associates, family members and even an nameless particular person to donate a kidney to assist somebody in want.
“We additionally take part in a program known as the Nationwide Kidney Registry,” Dr. Witt defined. Different hospitals all through the nation are additionally on this program. So, a cherished one may not be a match for somebody needing a kidney transplant, however they is likely to be a match for somebody in New Hampshire or Arizona and that particular person might need a cherished one who’s a match.”
To be a kidney donor, you usually must be at the least 18 years outdated, in good bodily and psychological well being, and freed from sure medical circumstances. Checks and consultations are performed first, the place these can study extra, and ask questions.
Dr. Witt says his workforce solutions this query rather a lot:
“Sure, kidney donors dwell simply so long as sufferers who have not donated their kidneys,” Dr. Witt laughed. “We get that on a regular basis. Of the 1000’s of individuals in America previously 30, 40 years who’ve donated their kidneys, there’s been no observable change in whole lifespan.”
Pictured: Dennis Santino together with his daughter GiGi.
That is why folks like Santino are anxiously hoping their match is on the market.
“I’ve a gorgeous 15-year-old daughter that makes me smile daily,” Santino mentioned with tears in his eyes. “I am all she’s received. She’s all I received. And that proper there’s greater than sufficient motive to be sitting right here with you and begging any individual to say, ‘hey, let me hold waking as much as this.’ , most individuals run from youngsters. I need to dwell with one.”
In case you or somebody you understand is taken with turning into a donor, the TGH transplant institute’s web site has academic guides, together with a questionnaire you possibly can fill out, and telephone numbers you possibly can name for extra info.
The Supply: Info for this story was gathered by FOX 13’s Regina Gonzalez.
STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA:
