Hello, my name is Heather... Thank you for taking the time to look at my website. My name is Heather Tufo and i'm 25 years old. I am currently a graduate school student at Mercy College. I am working towards becoming an elementary school teacher. I live with my parents and brother in Yonkers, NY. I was diagnosed with kidney disease at the age of 10. The disease has progressed rapidly in the last 4 years. In October 2008, I started dialysis and I am currently on dialysis three days a week while I await a kidney transplant. Our hope is for a transplant so I can live a happy, healthy, normal life, become a teacher, get married, and have children. That will not be possible unless I get a transplant. I have so much to live for and my future depends on a transplant. Please contact me if you or someone you know is interested in considering kidney donation. A potential donor needs to be under the age of 50 and have blood type A+. Donor will not pay any expenses as all medical costs will be covered. I would be extremely grateful to anyone who might consider helping me. Thank you, Heather | Did you know? - Over 83,000 people in America are waiting for a kidney
- One might wait between three and five years to receive a cadaveric(deceased) kidney. Because of the lack of available donors in this country, 4,276 kidney patients died in 2006 while waiting for life-saving transplants.
- Dialysis patients are much more likely than the general population to develop heart and blood vessel disease.
- The safety of the donor is of the utmost importance. Donors are evaluated by a kidney specialist to confirm suitability and safety for donation and surgery. Donating a kidney does not cause illness or disease.
- In the long-term, there are no problems associated with having only one healthy kidney. There are no special precautions needed for child bearing, and special diets are not required for those with a single healthy kidney.
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