Local Boy to Receive Second Transplant

Local Boy to Receive Second Transplant
by Casey J. Bortnick
Photo by Casey J. Bortnick
Published Nov 21, 2008
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A small school in Wyoming County is rallying around a young boy who needs a major operation. Tanner Krist, 7, will undergo a second kidney transplant next month. As the Letchworth Central School district raised money for the Krist family, Tanner's parents prepare to give their son a precious gift a second time.

"He's resilient. Resilient describes tanner," said Traci Krist, Tanner's mother.

Tanner Krist is not your average kid. At the age of seven he's already been through a lot.

"He's never whined. He's never thrown a fit or a tantrum. He never feels sorry for himself," Traci Krist said.

Tanner was born with malformed kidneys. At the age of five, doctors recommended a kidney transplant. His father Matt volunteered.

"I just did what any parent would do. Any parent would do that," said Matthew Krist, Tanner's father.

In April of 2007 Tanner received his dad's kidney. It worked for 14 months. After an unusual complication Tanner needed a second transplant.

"The blessing is that not only does he have a parent that's a viable donor. Tanner has two," Traci said.

After finding out she was a match Tanner's mother volunteered to become a donor as well.

"Because I'm the mom there's no other option. I really don't feel special," said Traci.

The whole family will head to Pittsburgh for a second surgery next month. Although the family has insurance Traci will have to take an unpaid leave from her job as a third grade teacher. The school held a charity basketball game to help pay for the travel expenses. It was a welcome distraction from the family’s anxieties.

"I worry about not working again. That's my biggest fear. But it will. It has to," Mathew said.

If you’d like to donate to the family’s medical and travel expenses you can send checks payable to Tanner’s Big Day at any M&T Bank in western New York.

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