HOPE FOR HUGH!

Hugh lost both kidneys at age 24 during a crabbing season, he was medivac'd to Anchorage where he had to be placed on Dialysis. 

He was on dialysis for over 2yrs when he got the call to go to Seattle because they received a donor. His Sister donated one of her kidneys to him.

Hugh is now 62yrs old and is in need of another kidney and we are looking for a LIVING DONOR to give the gift of life to him. 

Hugh went through months of testing and passed all health tests, He is the 2nd longest kidney transplant patient in the state of Alaska at 35+yrs strong. And he is active and healthy. 

He still has amazing impacts to make here and we need your help. 

May2024 -  I was really hoping my current Kidney would last a little longer, giving me time to find a living candidate / match, but my Kidney is now at end stage renal failure, I'll be starting hemodialysis next Tuesday. Not fun. 😥

Having experience kidney failure in the past, I know what to expect from the procedure as it will weaken me, make me sicker, even though dialysis is life, its not quality life, it slowly kills you over time, has damning side effects, like stretching the heart muscle, stressing the pulmonary artery, lung damage, easier to develop diabetes, hypotension, bone loss from calcium leaching, weakening of the immune system making me more susceptible to cancers, neurological damage to my nervous system, enlarging of the prostate, along with other known damaging effects from dialysis, hemodialysis isn't immediate death, but it does slowly kill you.

I thought I could just buy a kidney, but dummy me, I found out from my Doctor that purchasing organs in America is highly illegal, so that quashed my plan, so now I'm forced to beg someone for a kidney 😒 i also

understand I'm not the only one that has this immediate need

When my Sister Debbie donated one to me back in 1989, she said the operation and subsequent 3 day recovery with a couple weeks of rest from the surgery was virtually painless, it's a very small incision to extract the kidney, if this is a question you were wondering about.

Everything is paid for by the federal Government through President Nixons executive order, flights, hotel stay, no out of pocket expenses are incurred by the donor.

I know it's a big deal, I understand it's a hard decision, I know it's scary to go under the knife.

But at this point I don't have many options, I was raised to be self sufficient, stand on my own two feet, never beg or show any weakness, so it's very hard for me to ask, but it's out of my hands.

 I've proven to the transplant surgery team that I'm still healthy, other then a dying kidney, I've proven that I'm strong enough to go through with the operation, I've also proven that I take care of the kidney after receiving one.

I'm now living in Anchorage, I had to quit my job, leave my wife back home to take care of our home in Akutan, there's no dialysis in the Aleutians, plus I need to be closer to hospitals and an international airport.

I haven't been able to do crafts or art for the last 6 months, I've already developed hand shaking from my nervous system, making it impossible for me carve or paint with any accuracy.

I know this is long winded post, I'm not looking for any sympathy, as I explained it's very hard for me to ask for anything from others. I wasn't raised that way.

Oct2024 - As a reminder, my health is still good, I'm trying to remain positive, I hope a living donor will find the courage to donate a kidney to me.

 Dialysis kicks my butt at times, it makes me very weak, luckily from being a commercial fisherman most of my life, I've learned how to push through the fatigue is causes.

If you or someone you know has been debating on the prospect of donating the gift of life, I'd be very much appreciative towards the effort.

I know it's a big decision, I know it's not an easy choice, I understand it's scary.

I've proven that I can take good care of the donated organ, my last transplant lasted me almost 37 years,, that's the second longest kidney transplant in Alaska. 

So far, all my direct family members have been rejected for various reasons accept for one, however she's breastfeeding her new born which disqualifies her from the program. 

Thank you for reading 💕   

I humbly ask that you to keep me in your thoughts 🙏 it's not easy for me to go to dialysis, especially being a needle phobic 🥺

 University of Washington hospital transplant coordinator Aimee Gordon

• Message directly from Aimee.

"We would like to again emphasize that while organs are available from deceased donors (i.e.cadavers) that given the prolonged waiting times, and your current age, that your outcome would be significantly better from a living donor."

-- If you would like us to forward information about our living donor program to you or someone you know please contact us. We can be reached at 206-598-6994 if they, or you have any questions.--