More Than 100 Undergo Tests To Find Kidney Match For Father Of Six
CHICAGO (CBS) -- More than 130 Chicago-area residents have agreed to undergo tests to see if they can provide a life-saving kidney transplant to a Grand Rapids, Mich., father of six.
The family of 40-year-old Isidro Secundino made an emotional plea for donors, which WBBM Newsradio and CBS 2 aired nearly a month ago. The plea has drawn a response from potential donors ranging in age from their teens to their 70s.
Northwestern Memorial Hospital, working with the League of United Latin-American Citizens (LULAC), is trying to move the process along so they can determine if any of the potential donors are matches.
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As potential donors filled out the initial paperwork Saturday at Lincoln United Methodist Church, at 2242 S. Damen Ave., Secundino and his family sat quietly nearby, his 11-year-old daughter Nelly next to him.
"I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart because they are helping my dad," Nelly said.
Hospital guidelines require donors to be between 18 and 70 years of age, in good health with no major medical or mental illnesses and able to understand and comply with the guidelines for surgery, recovery and routine donor follow-up.
Nelson Carlo was told he was too old to offer to be the donor, at age 76, but insisted on filling out the paperwork.
"I've got two good kidneys and I've got an extra one," he said, and then asked, "Why not give it to someone who needs it?"
Sandy Dorner lost her brother to kidney disease; she offered him a kidney but was not a match and said that now, she is keeping her promise to him to help someone else.
"I was there. No questions asked," she said.
LULAC's Julie Contreras called the potential donors "angels," and said she hoped that those filling out the forms would follow through and donate a kidney, even if it is to someone else.
"We're seeing the spirit of Christmas -- the true spirit of Christmas," Contreras said. "Time and time again a situation like this shows us that there is only one race, the human race, and that any one of us can be the missing piece for each other."
Northwestern Memorial Hospital continues to seek potential donors.
Those interest in becoming a potential donor can call (312) 695-0828 or go online to www.transplant.nmh.org.
