Former New Hanover star gives up wrestling career to save brother's life

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Former New Hanover star gives up wrestling career to save brother's life

By Chuck Carree
Chuck.Carree@StarNewsOnline.com

Published: Saturday, July 18, 2009 at 8:33 p.m.

Sonny Siaki donated a kidney to save his brother Bernard’s life.

The transplant occurred June 5, 2009 at the Duke University Medical Center in Durham, with close to 30 relatives of the Samoan Tootoo-Siaki family in the waiting room.

The surgery went well and, after a week-long hospital recovery, Bernard returned to Wilmington, where both he and Sonny starred in football as inside linebackers for New Hanover High School during the Trot Nixon era.

“I feel like a new person; almost back to normal,’’ Bernard said.

Bernard was in renal failure, with kidneys functioning at less than 10 percent. Sonny was in the midst of an 11-year career as a professional wrestler, but their father, Paulo, approached Sonny as a last resort, after several family members were not a match.

Sonny retired in September from wrestling, then underwent six months of screening.

“If I had to do it all over again, I would not think twice,’’ he said. “I am just glad I was able to do this.

“I was the last hope. I am glad this is over with. Now we can enjoy his life again.’’

Sonny’s recollections of the transplant are vague. He just remembers being frightened before the procedure.

“I knew there was a possibility I could die and Bernard could die,’’ he said.

Specialists removed one of Sonny’s kidney’s during a nearly eight-hour procedure and then transferred it to Bernard during another eight-hour operation.

“I was nervous, but I was thinking about Sonny at the same time,’’ Bernard said. “I just wanted to make sure nothing happened to him.’’

Bernard goes to Duke University Medical Center every three weeks for follow-up appointments, and will take anti-rejection medication the rest of his life. As part of his treatment, he consumes 40 pills a day. Over time, though, doctors hope to reduce the intake to 15 to 20.

The transplant and medication is expensive. During pre-transplant consultation, the estimated cost was $300,000. Medicare and disability insurance covered some of the charges, but the Siakis have not received their portion of the bill. Estimates for Bernard’s monthly medication range from $1,000-$3,000 as they await approval from Medicare.

For two years before the transplant, Bernard underwent 15 hours of weekly dialysis and it disturbed Sonny to see his sibling always fatigued.

“Since the transplant, he does not take naps anymore,’’ Sonny said. “He has a lot more energy. ... My family and I felt sorry for him because he was tired all the time.’’

Bernard is now working out in a gym and hopes to return to work in the near future as a warehouse manager for Atlantic Appliance and Hardware, a position he held for 15 years.

“I am thankful to Sonny for giving me my life back,’’ Bernard said. “I am also thankful for my family for being such a strong support group as well as everyone else’s thoughts and prayers.’’

Chuck Carree: 343-2262

On Twitter.com: @StarNewsSports


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