Fridays with Mac: "Steve's Story"

It’s the first time this venture into interviewing folks who have received a kidney transplant drew immediate feedback on social media in Denver. The reason? The awesome chap who accepted the life-saving organ is a beloved Mile High City businessman who, along with darling wife, have operated a company that for years serves the event planning community. Steve Kinsley has a lot of fans. In fact, it was just announced the affable fella has joined the international board of directors for Meetings Professionals International. Salty.

The Colorado native found new life five years ago. “I was suffering from a rare condition called IgA Nephropathy,” says the gregarious soul. I leaned back in my chair and blurted, “What the hell is that?” Since being diagnosed with Amyloidosis and realizing the rare bone marrow disorder was destroying my kidneys, your scribe has been educated almost daily with different diseases and ailments leading to chronic kidney disease. It ain’t pretty folks. Bad kidneys? Challenging life.

Kinsley continued, “IgA Nephropathy? It’s an autoimmune disease that occurs when clumps of antibodies are deposited in your kidneys, causing inflammation and kidney damage. It usually shows up in our 30’s but hit me two decades later.” Wow. Clumps of antibodies? Sounds eerily similar to Amyloidosis where rogue plasma proteins “clump” together and attack vital organs. Dang, there’s a lot of nasty stuff present seeking to destroy kidneys. Please, protect them as best you can!

The golfing buff was just getting started, “It was discovered in June 2016 when I was 56.? I knew nothing about the disease before I was diagnosed after a kidney biopsy.?Immediately after the diagnosis my life changed. Diet. I was only allowed to eat less than 90grams of protein a day. Any foods making my kidneys work harder? History. We also went into ‘Find Steve a Kidney Mode’ and informed family and close friends and sent donor information”

Tears were welling his eyes. “Slowly friends started getting checked out. Most were not matches. Finally, in August 2018, my wife, with the help of a friend, posted a Facebook video.? It received more than 7,000 views. A fraternity brother from long ago saw it and got checked.? He wasn’t a match, however, he agreed to a paired exchange.” Bingo. The friend was in good shape and after all the approvals, surgery was performed two weeks later, January 8, 2019. Born again.

“After a five-hour surgery I almost leapt out of bed the next morning.? The difference from pre to post surgery is so dramatic.? Your body can finally void fluids it has been carrying around for months.” Amen brother. More than five years later, the accomplished chef looks great and admits curbing the appetite for tasty foods would probably help keep doctors happy the 63-year-old is staying physically fit.

The conversation shifted to those who stepped up. Family, friends and strangers who began the process of necessary testing for anyone considering live organ donation. It’s a journey involving blood and physical scrutiny plus a? lengthy psychological exam. For the 100,000 other folks out there needing a transplant too? Please consider at least investigating the process. "Share your spare, Save a life, Leave a priceless legacy." You can learn more about pained exchange too.

“What was fascinating,” suggested the father of two grown children. “As folks went through the blood test and physicals? A few discovered some unknown ailments. Stuff like Hepatitis C and high blood pressure.” Wow. Again, my brain zipped back to Amyloidosis. The nasty stuff leaving me and others looking for relief from its attacks? Earlier detection is critical to future success. The earlier Amy’s discovered? The better. Too often, like with my kidneys, by the time it’s unearthed these rogue clumps of protein are present? Too much damage has been done. People need transplants of kidneys, hearts, livers and lungs.

Again, it’s not just Amyloidosis after kidneys. In Kinsley’s case, it was IgA Nephropathy. It’s also rare? How unique? When writing this the computer’s “spell check” kept underlining it in red and tried to change it! You just never know.

What we do know? What most have in abundance - kidney, liver, bone marrow - can be shared and be life saving. Steve’s story is proof!