Stephen (Steve) Smiley

LIVING Kidney DONOR NEEDED

One kidney is enough for a person (or me) to lead a healthy life. Thank you for your consideration!

My name is Stephen (Steve) Smiley. I am a retired engineer, having worked in the chip and computer industries. Currently I'm interested in energy efficiency, such as the Passive House standard. I was diagnosed with kidney failure almost 8 years ago and have been on dialysis ever since. Being on dialysis has kept me alive but it weakens me over time. At one point I found I could not climb a steep slope in my backyard. I took some physical therapy but what I really need is a kidney transplant. It also makes travel more difficult because of the logistics of getting my dialysis machine and supplies to all the right locations every night.

I do peritoneal dialysis 7 nights a week for 10 hours per night. I have a surgically implanted catheter connected to my peritoneum which is a large sack that contains the heart, stomach, intestines, etc. The fresh dialysate is basically sterile water with some dextrose added. The dialysis machine pumps 3 liters of it into my peritoneum where it dwells for nearly 2 hours before being pumped out and replaced with fresh dialysate for the next of the 4 cycles. Waste products in the rest of the body diffuse through the wall of the peritoneum and are removed at the end of each cycle. During the day I get additional dialysis from 2 liters of dialysate that are left in my peritoneum all day. If I have appointments in the morning I have to plan carefully so I can finish my dialysis and be there on time.

A transplant would be a wonderful thing for me, so I don't have to be hooked up to a dialysis machine every night and would be more free to travel. I've felt that I had to turn down opportunities to travel because of the complications of being on dialysis.

I'm specifically looking for a male donor because I'm trying to get into the Freedom 1 clinical trial which would have the affect of freeing me from having to be on immunosuppressive drugs which are normally required to prevent rejection of the new kidney. These drugs can injure the kidney, and thus shorten its life. They also significantly increase the risk of getting infections and cancer since the resulting weakened immune system cannot adequately defend against them. A friend of mine died of cancer about 3 years after getting her kidney transplant. I would expect a longer life if I can get into this clinical trial.
For me the clinical trial requires that I have a male donor between the ages of 18 and 60 to be accepted into it. That's why I'm writing to all of you today. I would be most appreciative if you would share this post. The more people who see it, the better my chances will be of finding a donor. One kidney is enough for a person (or me) to lead a healthy life. Those considering donating, please email steveschampion@gmail.com. Thank you all for helping me to get a living donation.
Here is a video from NBC7 about my need: https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/rancho-bernardo-man-hopes-you-drive-by-and-give-him-a-kidney/2429665/

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