Paul Reisinger's Search for a Living Kidney Donor

Hi, I'm a single 69-year-old, mechanical engineer.  Retired after 36 years from Bendix in Elyria, Ohio.  Worked in product and process design related to air brake systems used on commercial vehicles (18-wheelers, school buses, etc.).   I retired to the Columbus area about eight years ago, and last summer, due to failing kidney function, I was added to the Ohio State University (OSU) Wexner Kidney Transplant waiting list.  

My Story - Around my 40 birthday I began experiencing joint stiffness.  My doctor said that I had Lupus - a chronic disease that involves the immune system, is of unknow origin, and is uncurable. Thankfully, a small pill, relieved the joint stiffness.  

A half-dozen years later, I was very sick and admitted to the hospital.  They found Lupus had caused my immune system to attack my kidneys (Lupus Nephritis.)  A biopsy found 1/3 of my kidneys had been destroyed. After months in and out of the hospital with many powerful drugs to beat back the Lupus as much as possible, I was able to return to work.  My doctor warned that kidney damage was unrepairable, and that my kidneys would continue to degrade over time.  I am now in Stage 5 kidney failure, also known as End-stage renal disease which is not survivable long term.   In August 2022, after through testing, I qualified to be put on the kidney transplant list.

On December 7, 2023, I had to start on dialysis - three days a week, Tuesday Thursday, and Saturday.  The expectation is that I'll need to remain on dialysis until a get a donor kidney transplant.   A transplant would assure the best survivability (two times longer than dialysis) and the best quality of life a person like me can expect.

Also view my interview on the evening news ...

New year, new kidney: Reynoldsburg man seeks kidney donor | WSYX (abc6onyourside.com) 

The Big Ask - Please consider volunteering to be a Living Kidney Donor, or as my Pastor says, give me the Gift of Life.   You can get started by submitting your application online as described below.

Please share my story with others. Just send them this website's URL (paulneedskidneydonor.org )

What potential kidney donors should know - I recommend starting by visiting the OSU Transplant Center website at:  Living Kidney Donation I Ohio State Medical Center (osu.edu)   You can apply to be evaluated as a donor by clicking on the "Click here to start the living donor process" button.  Your application will include a section for your medical history (the first step in the evaluation process.) You'll also be asked to provide the D.O.B. of the transplant recipient, I was born May 7th, 1954.

Or you call just call the OSU Donor Team at 614-293-6724, option 3. You'll have to give them my name and DOB (Paul Reisinger, May 7, 1954).  

Or just use this direct link to sign up to be a donor is:  Living Kidney Donation I Ohio State Medical Center (osu.edu) 

Or you can scan QR code below, which links directly to an electronic donor application BREEZE.  Which you can fill out on your cell phone.

My blood type is "O+" but, persons with another blood type can still be a kidney donor thought the paired donation process. See Paired Donation section of the OSU website referenced above.

 If your medical history looks good, for step two, they will send you for several days of extensive testing at a medical center near you (does not have to be near Columbus, Ohio).  My health insurance will cover all this.  See the OSU Transplant Center website for details about the whole process.  Potential donors are assigned their own team of specialists to guide them through the process and address any questions or concerns.

Please feel free to email me directly at: paulneedskidneydonor@gmail.com