Relationships with co-workers are usually casual ones for most people.
Small talk around the water cooler. Lunch hours in the cafeteria. A drink or two after work. That’s typically the extent of things.
Unless you’re Realtor John Bray.
The 45-year-old Oxford resident’s co-workers at Coldwell Banker Shooltz Realty are putting on a fund-raiser Nov. 4 at Kalloway’s to help save his life.
One of them is even planning to donate an organ.
‘It was like hitting the lottery,? said Bray, referring to when co-worker Diane Giroux, 48, of Oxford, told him in June she wanted to give him one of her kidneys.
‘It just seemed like the right thing to do,? said Giroux, who works as an assistant to one of the Realtors. ‘I have two. I only need one. Can’t take it with me.?
Bray, who’s a husband of 22 years and father of two daughters, suffers from Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), a genetic disorder characterized by the growth of numerous cysts in the kidneys. The cysts are filled with fluid.
PKD cysts can slowly replace much of the mass of the kidneys, reducing kidney function and leading to kidney failure. In the United States, about 500,000 people have PKD, and it is the fourth leading cause of kidney failure.
‘PKD is one of the major diseases out there today,? Bray said.
When PKD causes kidneys to fail ? which usually happens after many years ? the patient requires dialysis or kidney transplantation. About one-half of people with the major type of PKD, known as Autosomal Dominant PKD, progress to kidney failure.
Autosomal Dominant PKD is the most common inherited form. Symptoms usually develop between the ages of 30 and 40, but they can begin earlier, even in childhood. About 90 percent of all PKD cases are autosomal dominant PKD.
Bray inherited his Autosomal Dominant PKD from his mother. ‘She inherited it from her mother,? he said.
While serving in the U.S. Marine Corp. in his early 20s, Bray got tested to see if he could donate a kidney to his mother. That’s when he learned he too carried the disease.
Bray’s mother received a new kidney from another source and lived another five years following the transplant. She died in 1996 at age 57, the result of infection.
PKD didn’t manifest itself in Bray until May 2005 when he suffered renal failure. He’s been taking special medications over the last 12 months to keep his kidneys going.
‘They both function, but very little,? he said.
Six weeks ago Bray started dialysis.
‘My (kidney) process is slim and none now, and that’s why I’m on dialysis,? he said.
Three times a week, Bray gets up at 4 a.m. to travel to the DaVita dialysis center in Clarkston for his 5 a.m. appointments. He spends up to four hours on the machine during each visit.
As long as his body can handle the dialysis machine, Bray said he can continue, but it ‘puts a big wear and tear on your sytem.? He can’t continue on dialysis indefinitely.
‘The kidney function’s not going to be around forever,? he said.
That’s why for the last 11 months Bray’s been on the waiting list for a new kidney from a deceased donor. But this list means a three to five year wait.
Enter Giroux. Earlier this year she saw some literature about donating a kidney on Bray’s desk, so she secretly took the brochure, copied it and returned it.
She brought it home to read.
‘God just placed it on my heart to do it in the first place,? said Giroux, who’s a member of Seymour Lake United Methodist Church. ‘I prayed about it and I talked to my husband about it.? She also talked it over with her kids.
Although she’s been registered on the National Marrow Donation Program Registry for 20 years, which contains the names of more than 6 million willing donors, donating an organ is something altogether different. ‘I’ve never thought about giving anybody a body part before,? Giroux said.
Supported by her faith and her family, Giroux began the necessary testing at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak to see if she was a compatible donor.
In March, she began undergoing the extenstive testing for three months without Bray’s knowledge. ‘I didn’t want to say anything and get his hopes up,? Giroux said.
Testing includes blood work, Electrocardiogram (EKG), chest X-rays, CAT scan and examination by a urologist. ‘There’s probably 12 or so different steps you have to go through to become a donor,? Giroux said. ‘I’ve completed maybe half so far.?
With everything looking good so far, Giroux decided to tell Bray in June about her special gift.
‘It was just amazing,? said Bray, who had a hard time putting into words exactly what this means to him. ‘As of now, she is a possible donor. She’s not only blood type compatible, but she carries a number of the same antigens.?
An antigen is a substance that stimulates an immune response, especially the production of antibodies.
‘We were just co-workers, now we know we’re practically related,? Giroux said. ‘Our antigens are like we could be brother and sister, it’s so close.?
‘I could be the black sheep of the family, who knows,? she said jokingly. ‘I’m the older sister.?
Although things look good right now, Giroux still has to lose another 30 of the 50 pounds and then undergo more testing.
Although she’s been cancer-free for five years, Giroux, who battled thyroid cancer, must visit an endochronologist.
‘They make sure eveything’s working,? she said. ‘I think it’s all Godsend. He put it on my heart to consider it and if it’s His will it will go through and everything will be perfect.?
‘It’s a waiting game,? Bray said.
As if the kidney weren’t enough, Coldwell Banker Shooltz Realty is hosting a fund-raiser Saturday, Nov. 4 at Kalloway’s Restaurant & Pub.
A 1950s Sock Hop is the theme for an evening featuring dinner, silent auction, 50/50 raffle, cash bar and a DJ spinning all the classic hits from the decade when rock and roll was born. Tickets are $75 per person.
Kalloway’s owner Gary Lepak is donating the lower level of his restaurant for the event. Money is needed to help Bray pay his medical bills.
‘What we’re trying to do as a company is support John and his family, helping with some of those costs that are above and beyond what his insurance covers,? said Chris Hendrix, general manager of Coldwell Banker Shooltz Realty. ‘Anything we can do.?
‘I do have medical insurance through my wife’s work at POH, but it’s limited,? Bray said. ‘It’s a self-funded program so we’re not quite sure exactly what they’ll cover.?
Some of the prescription medications Bray will need to take could cost anywhere from $500 to $1,000 each because they’re experiemental. The monthly cost for prescriptions could be thousands of dollars depending on what the doctors put him on.
If and when the transplant surgery occurs, Bray will be laid up for three to four months, meaning no income from his job. Thirty months after the surgery he will qualify for Medicare, but ‘there will be ongoing expenses throughout this whole process.?
Coldwell Banker Shooltz Realty has set up a special account for Bray at Oxford Bank for people to donate directly.
‘We want people to know what an important part of the Coldwell Banker Shooltz family John is,? Hendrix said. ‘We’re really asking the community for their support.?
A member of Christ the King, Bray said the church on W. Drahner Rd. plans to collect donations for his medical fund during this year’s production of ‘The Yellow Brick Road,? playing Oct. 19-21.

With everything looking good so far, Giroux decided to tell Bray in June about her special gift.
‘It was just amazing,? said Bray, who had a hard time putting into words exactly what this means to him. ‘As of now, she is a possible donor. She’s not only blood type compatible, but she carries a number of the same antigens.?
An antigen is a substance that stimulates an immune response, especially the production of antibodies.
‘We were just co-workers, now we know we’re practically related,? Giroux said. ‘Our antigens are like we could be brother and sister, it’s so close.?
‘I could be the black sheep of the family, who knows,? she said jokingly. ‘I’m the older sister.?
Although things look good right now, Giroux still has to lose 50 pounds and undergo more testing.
Although she’s been cancer-free for five years, Giroux, who battled thyroid cancer, must visit an endochronologist.
‘They make sure eveything’s working,? she said. ‘I think it’s all Godsend. He put it on my heart to consider it and if it’s His will it will go through and everything will be perfect.?
‘It’s a waiting game,? Bray said.
As if the kidney weren’t enough, Coldwell Banker Shooltz Realty is hosting a fund-raiser Saturday, Nov. 4 at Kalloway’s Restaurant & Pub.
A 1950s Sock Hop is the theme for an evening featuring dinner, silent auction, 50/50 raffle, cash bar and a DJ spinning all the classic hits from the decade when rock and roll was born. Tickets are $75 per person.
Kalloway’s owner Gary Lepak is donating the lower level of his restaurant for the event.
The money is needed to help Bray pay his medical bills.
‘What we’re trying to do as a company is support John and his family, helping with some of those costs that are above and beyond what his insurance covers,? said Chris Hendrix, general manager of Coldwell Banker Shooltz Realty. ‘Anything we can do.?
‘I do have medical insurance through my wife’s work at POH, but it’s limited,? Bray said. ‘It’s a self-funded program so we’re not quite sure exactly what they’ll cover.?
Some of the prescription medications Bray will need to take could cost anywhere from $500 to $1,000 each because they’re experiemental. The monthly cost for prescriptions could be thousands of dollars depending on what the doctors put him on.
If and when the transplant surgery occurs, Bray will be laid up for three to four months, meaning no income from his job. Thirty months after the surgery he will qualify for Medicare, but ‘there will be ongoing expenses throughout this whole process.?
Coldwell Banker Shooltz Realty has set up a special account for Bray at Oxford Bank for people to donate directly.
‘We want people to know what an important part of the Coldwell Banker Shooltz family John is,? Hendrix said. ‘We’re really asking the community for their support.?
A member of Christ the King, Bray said the church on W. Drahner Rd. plans to collect donations for his kidney fund during this year’s production of ‘The Yellow Brick Road,? playing Oct. 19-21.
Benefit for John Bray
WHO: Oxford resident John Bray, a Realtor at Coldwell Banker Shooltz suffering from Polycystic Kidney Disease
WHAT: A 1950s Sock Hop fund-raiser to help pay Bray’s medical bills. Benefit includes appetizers, dinner, dessert, cash bar, silent auction, 50/50 raffle and a DJ playing ?50s hits.
WHEN: 6 p.m. to midnight Saturday, November 4
WHERE: Kalloway’s Restaurant & Pub, 595 N. Lapeer Rd., Oxford
COST: $75 per person
MORE INFO: Call (248) 628-4711