Community Magazine July 2016

public on the life-saving benefits of living kidney donations. Aside for facilitating and coordinating live donor kidney transplants, they provide professional advice, practical and financial assistance, and emotional support for both parties. Patients abetted by Renewal will typically wait less than one year for a kidney and have ancillary costs such as time off from work, transportation, meals, babysitting, rehabilitation, and other expenses covered. By matching those capable and willing to offer the gift of life with those who desperately need it, Renewal’s work has saved lives throughout the Jewish world, including many here in our Sephardic community. Real People, Real Stories Community Magazine spoke with a number of Sephardic recipients about the effect Renewal has had on their lives. –Mr. Henry Barnathan– About ten years ago, Henry (“Rico”) Barnathan, a well-known business owner, father and grandfather, went on a family Bar Mitzvah trip to Israel. While walking casually along the cobblestone streets, Rico fell and broke his ankle. He was taken to the hospital for an X-ray, where they discovered the disturbing news. Through Henry’s blood work, doctors found that he had long been living with chronic kidney disease. His kidney was already 90% damaged. Although he exhibited no outward symptoms at the time, Rico’s kidneys continued to deteriorate and he grew increasingly fatigued. Eventually, partly due to his failing kidneys, Rico was also diagnosed with coronary disease, and in November 2012, required open-heart surgery fromwhich he recovered. In March of 2015, the severity of Rico’s symptoms markedly increased. He was out of breath, lethargic, walking very slowly and could not eat, or even lie down on his own. One evening, his blood pressure dropped to an especially low level and his body accumulated a buildup of fluid. Hatzalah was called, and he was rushed to the hospital. Doctors found his creatinine level to be very high, and insisted he take a water pill to drain his kidneys. Thereafter, Rico was put on emergency dialysis for several months in order to save his life. The dialysis immediately helped; however, Rico did not see it as a viable long-term solution. As he told us: “Dialysis is not a way of life; it is a wasted day.” When Rico’s family learned about Renewal, his son, Eddie, placed him on the list for a live kidney donor. Eddie affirms, “The three top guys, A.J. Gindi,MenachemFriedmanandDavidSchischa, immediately stepped in and put us at ease. They made us feel confident, and worked tirelessly to get a matching donor. They are more than family. They are angels from Hashemwho do kindness and hesed .” Within a month, Renewal found Rico a live donor, and, in June of 2015, Rico underwent the procedure at Mt. Sinai hospital with the respected Dr. Ron Shapiro. Rico praised his donor, a young Hassidic man, and all of those who volunteer to save a life: “These donors are true believers in Hashem. There are no boundaries when helping another Jew. There is nothing more important than the true hesed of saving a life.” Today, Rico lives a healthy life, and is cherished by his many children and grandchildren. Rico Barnathan and his donor. Alon Dery right before transplant. (L-R) Mr. Herzog of Kedem Wines, Zac Gindi (donor), Dr. Ratner (transplant surgeon), and Mendy Reiner (Founder). Salim Lalo (recipient) with his donor. Menachem Friedman (Transplant Coordinator), Ralph Hanan (donor), and David Schisha (Director). Eddie Sitt (recipient) with his son Eli Sitt (Donor). IYAR - SIVAN 5776 JUNE 2016 33