Kidney transplant saves local man’s life
Robert Dehart says, “life is lovely.”However, that wasn’t always the case for the 54-year-old. He says a kidney transplant more than 15-years ago saved his life.
At the age of 20, he became a diabetic. As a result, his kidneys began to fail in 1997. Dehart tells us he was so ill because of it, he was afraid to go sleep at night because he thought he would die.
Robert Dehart goes on,”I was very sick. I had lost down to one- hundred and four pounds and then my sister went and got tested.”
Dehart’s sister wasn’t a perfect match, but since she was his sibling, doctors performed the transplant. It was a success. The surgery took place in 1999. DeHart struggled with blindness after that transplant due to complications linked to his diabetes.
Fortunately, Dehart gained his sight back. He tells 47 ABC he’s been living a healthy life ever since with his sister’s kidney. He hasn’t had any kidney rejections.
Dehart replies, “Thank god my sister, my little sister donated this kidney.”
Stephanie Elliott, the manager of the renal unit at Peninsula Regional Medical Center, says she’s heard heart warming stories of donations like this one.
However, some aren’t as lucky. Roughly thirteen people die a day waiting for a kidney. On Delmarva, the rate of kidney disease is higher than the national average.
Elliott says,”We have a lot of ethnicities here. We have a lot of African Americans who have a natural propensity for high blood pressure and diabetes as well.”
Those two factors are the biggest causes of kidney disease. However, Elliott says education can be a key to avoiding it. Elliot says what affects the heart affects the kidney.
Elliott continues, “They go hand in hand. Diet the same way. You want to have a low fat diet. You want to exercise.”
Essentially leading a healthy lifestyle is what Elliot believes can not only save kidneys, but lives.
The 2015 Salisbury Kidney walk will be held May 3rd at Winterplace Park at 10 a.m. 47 ABC’s very own Meteorologist Daniel Johnson will be emceeing the event.
At last check, the walk has already raised more than $12,000.
