Community Magazine July 2016

Meanwhile, Izzy, an attorney and father of five from Flatbush, reached out to Renewal around the very same time. He had joined a minyan in Mount Sinai Hospital while visiting a friend who had donated a kidney. He was inspired by his friend’s tremendous act of hesed and decided right then and there that he wanted to donate his kidney. After living life on dialysis for several months, Jack knew this was no way to live, and turned to Renewal in the hopes that they could find him a match. Just two months from the day he placed that call, Renewal coordinated the transplant between Jack and Izzy - two total strangers - giving Jack what he calls “a new lease on life”. Give Life Since its inception, Renewal has been involved in hundreds of transplants. In the last year alone they were responsible for 60%-70% of all the altruistic transplants performed in the state of New York. Their dedication has saved hundreds. Renewal invites our community to take part in its efforts to save the lives of those kidney patients in desperate need of a transplant. To contribute to Renewal, or for more information about how you can get involved in its life-saving work, please visit www.life-renewal.org. Each and every one of us can save a life. Sam Salem is in desperate need of a kidney. David Schicha, A.J. Gindi, and Simon Yedid (husband of recipient). From left to right - Greg Shamah (donor) with his brother David (recipi ent). Recipient Yaniv Nagar. To round off our story, we sat down to interview Renewal’s community advocate A.J. Gindi, himself a kidney donor. CM : So, A.J., how did your relationship with Renewal Begin? AJ: In February 2013, I became an altruistic kidney donor - meaning I donated my kidney without knowing or meeting my recipient until the day of transplant. Before that, Renewal received various requests from other community members in need of a transplant, and facilitated a few. In February 2014, they asked if I would serve as the Community Advocate because they felt the need for someone who knew the Sephardic culture and ‘language’. CM: We have noticed that many transplants have taken place in the past few months. Why do you feel there is such a sudden need for kidneys? AJ: I think the need was always there. People just never knew where to go. In the past, people would register with the hospital and wait years hoping for a phone call that a kidney had become available. Every few days they would go to the dialysis center for treatment, and many would pass away while on the machines. Renewal has given people new hope. CM: What is dialysis? AJ: Dialysis is a process in which the toxins in the blood are filtered through a machine. Since a person’s kidneys have failed, there is no way to relieve the body of those toxins other than dialysis. The average patient will visit the dialysis center three days a week for four hours at a time. CM: What is the main cause of kidney failure and at what age does it most commonly happen? AJ: According to the National Kidney Center, the main causes of kidney disease are diabetes, high blood pressure, and, in some cases, medication. The Kidney Center asserts that some over-the-counter medicines can be poisonous to your kidneys if taken regularly over a long period of time. Products that combine aspirin, acetaminophen, and other medicines like ibuprofen have been found to be the most dangerous to the kidneys. If you take painkillers regularly, check with your doctor. Another factor is Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), which is hereditary. CM: By what age should one be concerned about Gd forbid developing kidney ailments? AJ: As far as age is concerned, kidney disease knows no boundaries. Male, female, young or old, all can be affected. Renewal has facilitated transplants in children as young as two years old and adults as old as 83. This horrific disease can affect anyone. CM: How many people are currently on Renewal’s waiting list? AJ: About 300. CM: Does that mean if you had 300 donors it would clear up the list? AJ: I’m sorry to say - not even close. Only 30% of the people that want to donate their kidney will actually be able to pass all of the testing required to become a donor. After that, there is blood matching, cross tissue matching, and antibodies to deal with. Renewal also does not solicit donors. Our goal is to educate people about kidney donations and explain the aspects of becoming a donor. Through this awareness process, people step forward for testing. CM: If there is one thing you could wish for, what would it be? AJ: That’s a simple question that any kidney donor could answer: We all wish we had another kidney to help save another life. *The cases mentioned on the cover of the magazine have been changed for the protection of the patients. 36 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE