Randy Fryar path to kidney transplant

Hello friends and family. Thank you for visiting our page. Many of you do not know that Randy has a genetic kidney disease known as Adult Polycystic Kidney Disease. He inherited it from his father, and we discovered it in early 2002 via a CT Scan for an acute case of food poisoning. Since that time, he has been under the care of a local Nephrologist who has diligently followed his kidney health and function. There is no cure for this disease, and it is the second leading genetic disease in America, behind Cystic Fibrosis. 


In January, we learned that Randy's kidney function rate had dropped dramatically to 15 percent. When it drops below 20 percent, a person is placed on transplant status. His doctors desperately want to keep him from undergoing dialysis, and thus, we are moving quickly toward a kidney transplant at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.  Why Mayo?.......They are the Number One kidney transplant center in the world.....for recipient and donor.


Some of you have mentioned an interest in being tested as a possible donor. There is much misleading information on the Internet regarding kidney donation. We want to clarify the process so that it is COMPLETELY understood. 


IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT RANDY'S MEDICAL INSURANCE COVERS 100%  OF ALL MEDICAL EXPENSES OF POTENTIAL DONORS OR DONOR...LABWORK, TESTS, SURGERY, FOLLOW-UP, ETC...


RANDY IS COMPATIBLE WITH A+, A-, O+, and O- BLOODTYPES.


IF YOU ARE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING BEING TESTED AS A POSSIBLE DONOR, WE ARE OVERWHELMED BY YOUR LOVE AND GENEROSITY . WORDS WILL NEVER ENCOMPASS OUR DEPTH OF GRATITUDE. PLEASE REVIEW THE FOLLOWING STEPS AS YOU CONTEMPLATE JOINING US ON THIS JOURNEY. WE NEED TO MOVE QUICKLY.


The process of donating a kidney is as follows:


**Go to website: mayoclinic.org/livingdonor           **At the site, click "Health History Questionnaire" in the middle of the page.
                                                                                                             **Click "Living Kidney Donor"
                                                                                                             **Click "Mayo Clinic Minnesota"

**Complete online Health History Questionnaire (5-15 minutes)
**Donor Coordinator from Mayo will review your information and contact you for a 15 minute telephone interview
**Donor Coordinator will decide if you are qualified to begin initial blood screening based upon overall health and well-being
**Bloodwork kit is mailed to you for blood draw at your local lab. That lab will send vials to Mayo. 
**Mayo will test it against Randy's blood and tissue, looking for antibody matches/differences
**As potential donor blood testing is reviewed, Mayo will determine matches in order from best to worst


**If you are identified as the BEST match, you will fly to Rochester on Delta or American Airlines for 2-3 days. WE WILL COVER ALL HOTEL          AND AIRFARE AND OTHER EXPENSES. **ONLY ONE PERSON IDENTIFIED AS THE BEST MATCH WILL GO TO ROCHESTER . 
**Medical testing at Mayo is MINIMAL. You will have an EKG and a CT SCAN with contrast (dye). The CT SCAN lasts only for 5-10 minutes. The remainder of your time is spent in discussions with an internist, coordinators, surgeon, and educational films. Mayo has this process unbelievably managed. No waiting times, never rushed, all questions answered.


As the best donor is identified, the following explains what happens from that point:


**Surgery at Mayo is short and done laparoscopically. Kidney is removed through tiny incision at belly button.
** Donor remains in hospital for 2-3 days and possibly at local hotel for 1-2 additional days and can then fly home.
** Depending upon type of work, you can return to your job in one week. Will have appropriate  follow up by phone by Mayo physicians and local bloodwork performed.
** Randy remains with a caregiver in hospital for 3-5 days and in Rochester for 3-5 weeks.

RISKS...... A DONOR HAS LESS THAN .03 of 1% RISK of complications.

Our physicians at Mayo Clinic have advised us to have all SERIOUS living donor candidates go to mayoclinic.org/livingdonor or call 866-227-1569 (tel:866-227-1569) (tel:866-227-1569 (tel:866-227-1569)) (tel:866-227-1569 (tel:866-227-1569) (tel:866-227-1569 (tel:866-227-1569))) (tel:866-227-1569 (tel:866-227-1569) (tel:866-227-1569 (tel:866-227-1569)) (tel:866-227-1569 (tel:866-227-1569) (tel:866-227-1569 (tel:866-227-1569)))) as soon as possible to give Randy the best chance of surgery in the near future....April, May, or June.


Blessings to all of you and gratitude for your prayers and love through this process,

Randy, Wendy, Ciana, and Luke