Man who donated kidney now needs a transplant himself

[okarol]

Man who donated kidney now needs a transplant himself

By Mary Anne Swickerath

Ocoee native Wayne Hurst decided eight years ago to anonymously donate one of his kidneys to someone who needed it, anyone who needed it. He was, in fact, the first anonymous donor for TransLife, an organization that serves 10 counties in Central Florida as a link between an organ donor and a possible recipient.

Hurst, who has been a letter carrier for the Ocoee Post Office for 21 years, volunteered to give a kidney to a complete stranger. His father had died of kidney failure when Wayne was 8 years old, and he has delivered mail regularly to a dialysis unit on West Colonial Drive, so he was keenly aware of the need for donations.

“I knew I could make a difference in someone’s life, so I offered one of my spare parts,” he told The West Orange Times in an interview last week.

Little did he know that his remaining kidney would begin to fail, a fact he learned approximately seven months ago.

He is now, at 61, in stage four of renal failure, and there are only five stages in all, so he is hoping to be cleared for a transplant before Christmas.

He is currently undergoing a whole battery of tests to make sure he is a candidate for a transplant, and he and his wife, Yvette, have been overcome with the support they have received from the community. More than 10 people have already offered to donate a kidney if they prove to be a good match.

“It was unbelievable how many people came up to us at Founders’ Day and said they would donate a kidney for Wayne,” said Yvette.

“It’s been a humbling experience,” said Wayne.

He will have to be out of work for 12-15 weeks following surgery, much more than the vacation time he has available, and other expenses will put on strain on them financially; therefore, several fund-raisers are in the works to help the family out, and a fund has been set up at Wachovia Bank under the title “Wayne’s Kidney.”

And next Wednesday, Oct. 28, Scooter’s Car Wash on West Colonial Drive in Winter Garden is holding WayneFest, in which all the proceeds from that day will be donated to the Hursts for their medical expenses.

“It’s hard for Wayne to be on the receiving end because he’s always been a giver,” said Yvette, but he is trying to be philosophical about needing help.

“I’ve been told a lot recently that it’s important to accept the gift of help from others,” he said.

Known for his jokes and his sense of humor, Wayne has kept a positive approach to his current life-endangering health problems: “Everything is what it is. There is no need to go ‘Woe is me.’ I feel like I can go ‘Why not me?’ I’ve been healthy for 60 years. I don’t have a lot to complain about.”

He is also completely positive that he did the right thing eight years ago. He accidentally met the man who received his kidney, a man who has become a good friend. Wayne said he would do the same thing again

“It was the right decision eight years ago,” said Yvette, “and it is still the right decision.”

Wayne and Yvette have two sons, Toby, 29, and Nathan, 32, as well as three granddaughters and a host of friends.

Wayne Hurst has a lot to live for, and he is hoping to have a new chance at life real soon.

http://www.westorangetimes.com/articles/2009/10/24/news/top_stories/news02.txt