Hi, My name is Gary Kawka and I am 57 years old, a husband, a father, and someone who really loves life! I am on a quest to ask someone for the ultimate gift, a life saving kidney to allow me to get a kidney transplant to continue to live life to the fullest. I am usually not one to ask for help but I am put in a position where I must! In 2008, as a result of a blood test followed up by a kidney biopsy, I have been diagnosed with “FSGS”, Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis which is basically a hereditary kidney disease that progressively scars the kidneys and eventually causes kidney failure. My kidney function has been decreasing by about 3% per year and I am now at 20% kidney function. I had also had genetic testing done last year as part of a study on kidney disease that runs in families and my daughter, Meghan, participated as well. I just got the results recently and learned that I actually have Alport Syndrome not FSGS. (Alport Syndrome is also a hereditary disease that causes kidney failure.) Typically, once your kidney function falls below 10% you either get a kidney transplant or go on dialysis. Those that go on dialysis typically live a very short and difficult life. A kidney transplant is the recommended solution and the ones with the best outcome are those from a living donor versus a cadaver kidney. Also, the waiting list for a cadaver kidney is quite long and in my case, may be up to 4 years which puts me at a very challenging timeframe quite possibly needing dialysis first which would definitely shorten my life.
A little bit about me—–
As I said, I am a husband to my wife Carolyn, we met 40 years ago and have been married for 35 years. We had 3 children, my daughter Meghan, who lives in the UK, my son Matthew (more about Matthew below) and an unnamed child who died in a miscarriage. My son Matthew, who was an awesome son, had am autoimmune disorder that affected his liver that was discovered when he was 3. In 2005, Matthew became very sick and after many tests it was determined that he had Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a blood cancer. Matthew fought a very tough fight but passed away on December 7, 2005 in my arms. He was 18 years old! In 2007, I got involved with Team in Training to benefit The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to help fight the disease that took my son by raising funds and running in marathons. I became a coach for Team in Training in 2010 and have helped train many participants to run a marathon and fight the disease. Since starting this journey, I have raised about $134,000 for the cause. I have a motto that is now repeated across the state of NJ that “WE MUST NEVER QUIT!!” until a cure is found.
I am now in a fight for my own life and need the help of others and possibly a stranger I never met to donate a kidney to save my life!! This is my personal challenge now and I am up for the fight but need your help!!
Please see the attached pages/links to learn more about my disease and how you can help as well as the impact it will have on your life and mine!
Thank you for even considering such a noble cause and I leave you with my new motto:
I WILL NEVER QUIT!!
Gary Kawka
