Teen hopes for kidney and a normal lifeBy Trish Wallace
ARNOLD, MO.-- Aaron Torimino, 16, wants to go to school regularly.
The Fox High School junior homecoming prince misses classes for dialysis every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Torimino, of Arnold, has suffered from Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) since he contracted E. coli from a bad hamburger when he was 1 year old. He started dialysis in June when his kidney function dropped seriously low. He is now on the transplant waiting list.
The renal disease makes him tired and gives him headaches and cramps.
"And that's on a good day," Sandra Torimino, Aaron's mother, said.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation sent Aaron and his family to California for one week this summer. The family took the trip immediately following a three-week vacation in Florida.
"We went from Disney to Disney," Sandra said.
By the time of the trips, however, Aaron wasn't able to walk much. A transplant might change that.
"That's what they (doctors) think," he said.
A friend of the family, Angie Davis, is a potential donor and begins testing today to see if she is a match. Davis' husband grew up attending the same church as Sandra Torimino. Aaron was the ring bearer in the Davis' wedding. The decision to try to donate wasn't necessarily an easy one, but an important one.
"I couldn't live with myself if I knew I could be a match and didn't do anything about it," Davis said.
A 16-year-old friend of Aaron's wanted to donate his kidney, but even with permission from both parents, a donor must be at least 18 years old.
Sandra is impressed with how supportive Aaron's friends have been.
"It's amazing," she said. "They've been so helpful, so kind. They help remind him to take his medicines."
Aaron said his best friend researched HUS online to know as much as possible about the disease.
Learning to deal with HUS hasn't been an easy road.
"I've had kids tell me at school they know they wouldn't deal with it as well as I do, but then again, those kids don't see me when I'm in a bad mood because of it," Aaron said.
Aaron is taking three dual credit courses this year, but the more school he misses for dialysis, the harder he said it is to keep up with his work. He also participates in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Student Council and dance, although he does not attend dance often due to his waning physical stamina.
He is not yet sure what he wants to study after high school.
"All I know is that I want to go to college," Aaron said, hoping to study at the University of Missouri in either St. Louis or Columbia.
The Toriminos established the Aaron Torimino Foundation, a non-profit organization set up for cash donations at US Bank, to eventually help other young people in the same situation as Aaron. For now, however, Aaron is the one in need of the foundation or he will have no way to pay for his medication through college.
"Aaron will top out his major medical insurance after his transplant," Sandra said.
Upcoming benefits for the Aaron Torimino Foundation
Oct. 20 - 11 a.m. - Car show at Michler Auto Body, 6151 State Route DD, Festus 636-475-3336
Oct. 20 - 5 p.m. - Dinner and Dance at the Meramec Arnold Eagles, 1750 Jeffco Blvd., Arnold 314-378-5778
Nov. 17 - 7 p.m. - Trivia night at the Fox C-6 Service Center, 849 Jeffco Blvd., Arnold 636-296-6211
http://suburbanjournals.stltoday.com/articles/2007/10/13/news/sj2tn20071009-1010jef_aaron.ii1.txt
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