Tim Gentile

Hello fellow kidney warriors,

This is the hardest thing you’ll ever do. Keep fighting. Be strong. Stay positive. I was diagnosed with

stage 4 CKD in 2013 due to a rare condition called Secondary Amyloidosis, which was caused by the

inflammatory effects of rheumatoid arthritis. I was scared, mad, confused and didn’t know where to

start. After I accepted the diagnosis, I knew that I had to take control. It is up to you and you only to do

this. My goal was to avoid dialysis. I changed my diet completely. Went to a specialist in Boston

Massachusetts to try an experimental drug for the Amyloidosis. All of these things helped keep my

kidneys stable for 2 years. In 2015 the function started to decline more regularly but dialysis was not

needed. I knew it was time to focus 100% on finding my match for a living donor as well as being added

to the “list” at a hospital in Cincinnati Ohio. Family offered and were tested. Sadly, they were not able to

donate. I was crushed. What do I do now? I started a page on social media to help spread the word. That

wasn’t enough. I had to advertise my need. I came up with the design for a yard sign. Red, white and

blue to grab people’s attention. I placed the signs on every street corner I could. I had large magnets

made and placed them all over my car. Hoping and praying someone would respond. Thankfully,

someone did. She lives 3 miles from my house and saw 2 of my signs on her way to work. She was a

perfect match and 1 day after my 47 th birthday in January 2018 she saved my life with the ultimate

gift. I have been doing wonderful since that day. Strong, healthy, and enjoying life again all thanks to Meg. You can do this. No idea is a bad idea. Don’t let anyone tell you differently. Do Not Give Up!!

I had been on dialysis for 13 years. And I had been on the transplant list at Christ Hospital for 13 years also. My friend told me I should get on the list somewhere else too so I went to Ohio State and got on their list in February of this year. I got called from Ohio State on JULY 29, 2021 at 1:17 am in the morning. I did not have my ringer on my phone but I swear I heard my phone ring. That was all God’s work. I got to the hospital at about 3:30 am because we live in Cincinnati. And had the surgery at 8 am. My kidney had kind of a slow start at the beginning and I wasn’t producing much urine. They said the kidney needed time to wake up bc it came from a cadaver. So now I am almost 6 weeks out and I am thriving. My creatinine is 1.5!!! I am having a little trouble with my wound healing but besides that I am doing fantastic!!! I have a lot more energy and a lot more time not having to go to dialysis- lol!!! God has blessed me so much!!! My mom died about 1 year ago and I know she pulled some strings to get me my new kidney!!! Her name was Maureen and I actually had a nurse named Maureen my last day!!! That was so awesome!!! 

My kidney journey started about 2 years ago when my kidney function hit only 15%. I was born with only one kidney due to a birth defect, and the one kidney I had was jeopardized as well. So over my lifetime it just going down hill. 

I got into the University of Tennessee Medical Center Transplant Center and began looking for potential living donors. I had many try to become my donor but none qualified. 

Sept. 14, 2021, I received a life changing phone call from my transplant coordinator saying a kidney had become available. By the Sept. 15, 2021, I received my new kidney which turned out to be a perfect match. 

I am 3 weeks out and the new kidney is working like a charm. I am regaining my strength everyday and learning a new way of life! I am extremely grateful to my deceased donor and their family for organ donation in their time of grieving. 

Anyone going through waiting of a life changing donation needs to keep hope as miracles are possible