Goodrich – Gloria Renaldo is on a mission to live.
After a life on a rather adventurous journey incorporating a myriad of cultures, countries and experiences–Gloria has a new challenge–fighting for her life.
Gloria, a native of Saginaw and now a Goodrich resident met Pierre Renaldo, a general contractor from western New York who specialized in Florida hurricane-resistant structures on a Florida beach in 1983. They married the following year.
That’s when her adventurous life began, says Gloria, joining her husband in skiing, playing tennis, scuba-diving, snorkeling, skydiving, cooking, and traveling, eventually moving nearly 2,500 miles from her North American roots to Central America.
In 1996 the couple move to the West Caribbean Island of Roatan about 40 miles off the north coast of Honduras. A Catholic missionary, Gloria was contacted by the church to take in a woman from Honduras, along with the woman’s baby.
‘It was interesting, we were going to go to Costa Rica,? said Pierre. Their plans changed course when they accompanied their charge back to her home country.?
While living in the Caribbean, Gloria’s health faltered.
‘I started having flu-like symptoms, kind of achy feeling,? said Gloria. ‘I was later diagnosed with Wegener’s disease.?
Wegener’s granulomatosis is a rare disease, in which the blood vessels are inflamed (vasculitis). This inflammation damages important organs of the body by limiting blood flow to those organs and destroying normal tissue.
In Gloria’s case her kidney’s failed during a 2001 Goodrich visit with her grandchildren, she stayed in Michigan for medical treatment.
Since then she performs peritoneal dialysis at home’or on the road’about five times a day, checking in with hospitals as needed.
‘I juggle diet, medication and dialysis just to lead a normal life style,? said Gloria. ‘A hundred different things. The reality is life expectancy for kidney failure is about five days.?
A professional photographer by trade Gloria had worked at Manatee Community College in Bradenton Fla. for about five years, where she came in contact with numerous chemicals used to develop film.
‘I worked in the film lab everyday,? she said. ‘There’s nothing certain that caused the disease but it’s possible.?
While the cause of the illness is still a question–Gloria focuses on the present.
‘So, I need a kidney I’ve waited about four years. What complicates matters is that when a family member dies they just don’t want them cut to harvest the organ. Also it’s hard to find a perfect match–with each blood transfusion your blood configuration changes.?
Some of the support for Gloria comes from DaVita meetings which provides dialysis services for those diagnosed with chronic kidney failure. According to the DaVita Web site more than 94,500 patients in 41 states and the District of Columbia from more than 1,200 outpatient dialysis centers receive benefits from the group. DaVita also provides acute inpatient dialysis services in more than 369 hospitals across the country.
‘Renoldo is my care-giver,? she said. It’s just as difficult for him as it is me. But my deep spirituality keeps me going, I figure if the Lord does not want me here anymore I’ll be in a better place.?
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