This is an update from a story first told two years ago about a father still searching for a kidney
Darrin Graham spends four hours each Monday, Wednesday and Friday hooked up to a dialysis machine. The treatments wear him out. "He's tired a lot," Rhiannon Graham said.
Darrin has been dealing with kidney failure since he was 15 years old living in Baltimore. He got one kidney transplant that just didn’t take. A second has given him some years but it too is wearing out. Now the 43-year-old Franklin resident needs a third.
"He doesn’t drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes or anything. He barley even drinks soda," Rhiannon said
Darrin is a dad. He has six kids he is trying to raise while battling this disease trying to kill him.
Darrin has been dealing with kidney failure since he was 15 years old living in Baltimore. He got one kidney transplant that just didn’t take. A second has given him some years but it too is wearing out. Now the 43-year-old Franklin resident needs a third.
"He doesn’t drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes or anything. He barley even drinks soda," Rhiannon said
Darrin is a dad. He has six kids he is trying to raise while battling this disease trying to kill him.
For the last 28 years he has dealt with failing kidney's, dialysis and knowing he likely has to hope a new donor will be there when he needs it the most.
Now is one of those times.
Two years ago he was lined up to get a kidney from an organ donor who died, but something happened and the kidney went to another patient.
So the Grahams went back to waiting. That is what they a seemingly always doing… waiting.
Grahams last transplant was a success but a transplant just buys time, not a lifetime.
Now is one of those times.
Two years ago he was lined up to get a kidney from an organ donor who died, but something happened and the kidney went to another patient.
So the Grahams went back to waiting. That is what they a seemingly always doing… waiting.
Grahams last transplant was a success but a transplant just buys time, not a lifetime.
"We were told a transplant is generally good for about ten years. This one has been 16,” Rhiannon said. And this kidney wasn’t a perfect match and has required him to continue dialys
"He's still really tired all the time and getting dizzy more frequently. His blood pressure is on the rise and he has a couple of close calls because his port( a device put into the body under the skin to administer treatments) has failed,” Rhiannon Graham said. Rhiannon said there just isn’t another place to put a port for him so they are taking it day to day.
”We're just hoping we can find a match before anything does get worse."
It's a huge ask.
"He's still really tired all the time and getting dizzy more frequently. His blood pressure is on the rise and he has a couple of close calls because his port( a device put into the body under the skin to administer treatments) has failed,” Rhiannon Graham said. Rhiannon said there just isn’t another place to put a port for him so they are taking it day to day.
”We're just hoping we can find a match before anything does get worse."
It's a huge ask.
Darrin Graham understands this. So does Rhiannon, his wife of the 14 years. Darrin has been dealing with kidney failure for over 30 years. He has had possible donors in the past that just didn’t pan out for one reason or another.
Waiting on a donor who has died, that matches blood type and a score of other criteria is a painfully arduous process.
Darrin is still spending 12 hours a week hooked to a machine just to keep his body functioning. They have been told that finding a living donor is their best hope.
Waiting for a match through a deceased donor is a 1 in 50,000 chance, they said.
He feels lucky that he doesn't really experience much pain and has been able to help take care of his kids.
Waiting on a donor who has died, that matches blood type and a score of other criteria is a painfully arduous process.
Darrin is still spending 12 hours a week hooked to a machine just to keep his body functioning. They have been told that finding a living donor is their best hope.
Waiting for a match through a deceased donor is a 1 in 50,000 chance, they said.
He feels lucky that he doesn't really experience much pain and has been able to help take care of his kids.
The family has started a Facebook page with lots of information about becoming a living donor. Even if one doesn't match Darrin's blood type they can still sign up and their kidneys could help another and the agency will try to match Darrin's through a swap system.
The page describes Darrin's situation and provides information about being a living donor and where folks can go to help.
"This is very draining on him. But he sucks it up and is a great father to his children. He goes to all their sporting events, plays catch with them and he helps takes care of his 5 year old son who was born with congenital heart disease and has had 5 open heart surgeries." the page explains.
Battling kidney failure has become his second full-time job to being a dad.
"I know this is a lot to ask of someone but at this point it seems to be our only option," Said Rhiannon. "I just want to see my kids grow, that's all that matters" Darrin added.
Need more information? Check out there
Darrin Graham needs a kidney facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/Darrin-Graham-Needs-a-Kidney-107809347387855/
Living donor form
https://livingdonorreg.upmc.com/?fbclid=IwAR2TWF1lwEyM4hJLuk5bwrzl7Xi1h_g2s_yN__9-kn3i4aKEs5RlWoYGRVc
The page describes Darrin's situation and provides information about being a living donor and where folks can go to help.
"This is very draining on him. But he sucks it up and is a great father to his children. He goes to all their sporting events, plays catch with them and he helps takes care of his 5 year old son who was born with congenital heart disease and has had 5 open heart surgeries." the page explains.
Battling kidney failure has become his second full-time job to being a dad.
"I know this is a lot to ask of someone but at this point it seems to be our only option," Said Rhiannon. "I just want to see my kids grow, that's all that matters" Darrin added.
Need more information? Check out there
Darrin Graham needs a kidney facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/Darrin-Graham-Needs-a-Kidney-107809347387855/
Living donor form
https://livingdonorreg.upmc.com/?fbclid=IwAR2TWF1lwEyM4hJLuk5bwrzl7Xi1h_g2s_yN__9-kn3i4aKEs5RlWoYGRVc
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