John Bray waited, hoped and prayed for a new kidney for two-and-a-half years.
The Polycystic Kidney Disease he had inherited from his late mother was causing his kidneys to shut down as fluid-filled cysts replaced organ mass and reduced function.
Then on the morning of Aug. 29, the 46-year-old Oxford resident got a phone call at work that not only changed his life, it saved it. A healthy kidney was found in Texas.
‘It was a perfect match,? Bray said. ‘It was like hitting the lottery.?
Wasting no time, Bray went to Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital that afternoon to undergo testing. ‘They want to make sure when that kidney goes in, it’s going to work,? he said.
Bray underwent transplant surgery at 1:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 31.
More than five weeks later, he’s doing just fine. ‘All is good,? Bray said. ‘I’m totally off dialysis now.?
For a year prior to the transplant, Bray was travelling to the DaVita dialysis center in Clarkston three times a week for his 5 a.m. appointments. Each visit took up to four hours.
Bray’s new kidney is working like a Swiss watch. ‘The new one basically takes over,? he said.
Doctors did not remove his original two kidneys, which were ‘semi-functional.?
‘The only time they would take one of the organs out is if there wasn’t enough room to transplant the new one,? Bray said. ‘The other two (kidneys) will eventually just kind of fade away.?
Fortunately, because Polycystic Kidney Disease is a genetic disorder, it will not harm the healthy kidney.
‘It won’t affect the new kidney at all,? Bray said. ‘I could get 20 or 30 years of life out of this kidney. As long as I stay healthy and don’t contract any viruses, I’ll be in great shape.?
To make sure that happens, Bray will have to take ‘about a dozen or so? medications every day for the rest of his life.
‘You think it’s a lot, but it’s keeping you alive,? he said. ‘It’s a small price to pay.?
Bray’s wasting no time enjoying his new lease on life and getting back in the swing of things. ‘I feel great,? he said. ‘I’m walking about a mile a day. I just got my driving privileges back.?
If all goes well, Bray plans to return to his job as Realtor at Coldwell Banker Shooltz Realty in Oxford after the first of the year.
‘We get our life back,? said Bray’s wife, Susan. ‘John will be around for hopefully years and years now in a healthy way so we can enjoy our children and someday their kids. It’s just such a blessing.?
Married 23 years on Sept. 8 ? which was incidentally the day after Bray was discharged from the hospital ? the couple has two daughters, Kate, 21, and Kelsey, 13.
Bray has many people to thank for his second chance at life.
First and foremost, he’s grateful to the source of his new kidney ? the 33-year-old man in Texas who died of a brain aneurysm. Bray is so very thankful for that man’s decision to be an organ donor.
‘That gift of life is phenomenal,? he said.
To the family of the deceased man, Bray’s wife said, ‘Thank you. God bless all of you.
Bray is living proof of why it’s important people be organ donors.
‘I think everybody should check that box on the back of their driver’s license,? he said. ‘I’ve had mine checked since I was 16 years of age. My wife is the same way.?
‘You could save a life,? Bray noted. ‘You can give somebody eyesight. It’s amazing.?
Bray’s thankful to the skilled doctors who performed the successful operation.
‘The transplant team at Beaumont Hospital is just phenomenal,? he said. ‘They’re a good group of people.?
He’s also extremely grateful to Coldwell Banker Shooltz Realty, Kalloway’s Restaurant and Pub, Oxford Academy of Dance and Christ the King Church, all of which helped raise more than $19,000 to help pay his medical bills.
And finally Bray wished to thank his co-worker Diane Giroux. Even though she was not able to donate her kidney as originally planned due to health issues, the gesture meant the world to Bray.
‘She was my support,? he said. ‘She gave me that hope.?