Preston Volunteer Fire Chief Needs Kidney Transplant
Preston, Md.-A local fire chief is searching for a kidney donor to save his life from late stage kidney failure.
Bryan Milligan, 45, said it all happened so fast, one day he’s fine, but the next he’s within hours of dying. When Milligan got his diagnosis he said he was stunned.
“Everything was a shock, I never would have thought in a million years that my kidneys had failed, never, Milligan said. That wasn’t even on the radar.
After he was diagnosed last October, Milligan said the change in his lifestyle was a painful one. Being forced to complete dialysis multiple times each week has taken a toll on his resolve.
“I sit here and poke myself 3 times, 4 times a week, it’s stressing me out right now thinking about it,” Milligan said. “I’m don’t know if I’m optimistic, there’s so much unknown.”
The donor list in Maryland is a long one, according to a coordinator at living legacy foundation, the line to get a kidney transplant is three thousand people long.
We’re told it can take several years to get to the top of the list and
“To be an organ donor you’re giving that gift of life, that gift of hope to a family who just doesn’t have any other options,” Chris Wright, a coordinator at the Living Legacy Foundation said.”Organ donation is an amazing thing, you’re ostensibly curing a terminal disease with an operation.”
The Living Legacy Foundation says over 50 percent of Marylander’s are organ donors and that 95 percent believe in organ donation, but Milligan says he hopes that just one would be willing to donate to save his life.
“An altruistic person who donates a kidney is…it takes a special person to do that,” Milligan said. “But I think that’s why were here, to help each other, if you’re looking for your purpose in life your purpose is to help other people no matter what it is.”
Milligan went on to say he will continue to treat his condition at home but he hopes that his story will encourage more donations.
If you would like to help or see if you match blood types with someone near you in your community, visit the United Network for Organ Sharing website.
