My name is Alison. Al Mangine is my father and I am writing this on behalf of our family. Thank you so much for visiting and reading his story.
My dad is has Stage 4 kidney disease and needs a kidney transplant. He is currently living on just over 15% kidney function, and we need to find him a kidney. The wait time for a kidney from a deceased donor through the UNOS is roughly 3-5 years. This is why we are hoping to find a generous person who will consider donating a kidney. From start to finish, the process could take as little as six months.
My dad is a Type II diabetic, and was diagnosed in his early forties. His kidney disease is attributed to his diabetes. He and my mom, Karen, have worked diligently to control the diabetes through diet, medication and eventually insulin. Over time, the diabetes damaged his kidneys and now here we are. His kidneys cannot support him any longer, and so we have to ask someone to help us and give us one of theirs.
You probably wonder why my mom, my brother Nick, or I am not giving up our kidney. Simply put, we don't match. The first qualification for organ match is blood type. Dad is type A; Mom is type B and Nick and I are both type AB. Dad can only receive an organ from type A or type O. Positive and negative do not matter when it comes to organ donation.
So here is where you might come in. We have been told that over 50% of transplant patients can find a living donor. We are searching for kind and generous people who are willing to consider offering us this tremendous gift. We are asking the selfish question that no one wants to ask: Could you consider doing this for us? Could you save my dad? Would you ask me the same question if it meant I could help your loved one?
If you are type A or O and could consider this most generous and altruistic sacrifice, please visit www.umnhealthlivingdonor.org or you can call 612-625-7010. There is a questionnaire that takes about 15 minutes to complete. It is private; my family will never know if you did it or not, or if you qualify or not unless YOU choose to proceed. Visiting the site or filling out the questionnaire does not bind you to a decision. It is only step one. Dad’s birthday is 10/24/51. You will need that when indicating your potential recipient.
There is so much information available to you through the U of M from qualified medical professionals that could and will answer any questions you may have about the surgery, recovery, what it means to live with one kidney, etc. You can also visit
https://unos.org/donation/living-donation/ for more general information. Or you can ask us. We will tell you everything and anything we can.
Please share my dad's story. We never imagined we would have to ask our family and friends for such an outrageous request. We are completely humbled and overcome by the idea that we must do so. I would do anything for my dad, but I can't do this. And I know my mom and brother feel the same. So we have to ask you.
Thank you for taking the time to reading my dad's story. Thank you for sharing my dad's story with others. And a tremendous thank you to any and all of you that consider it, even if for a moment.
Al, Karen, Alison, and Nick
Alex, Matt and Tony
