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Erica Siegel’s dad was only in his mid-50s when he was diagnosed with a kidney disease that now has him on dialysis, waiting a kidney transplant from his sister – scheduled for April.
But new research by The Kidney Project, based at the University of California San Francisco holds the promise of keeping millions of people alive with a bioartificial kidney to treat end stage renal disease.
You can get a hoagie and help a good cause from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday, March 9. Erica and her husband Patrick, owners of Purelli Kitchens – located inside Danny Boy Beer Works, 12702 Meeting House Road, Carmel – are donating 50 percent of every hoagie sandwich sold to the Kidney Project. Erica is hoping for a huge crowd to provide much-needed financial support for patients like her father, Ron.
Erica Siegel’s father Ron, 68, is scheduled in April for a kidney transplant from his sister. (Photo provided)
“My dad has gone through so much … for the past three years, he has been on dialysis for three times a week and it really wears him down as I am sure it does many others,” Erica said. “This new research could be the answer for so many people who are still on a waiting list for a kidney.”
Nearly 750,000 patients per year in the United States and an estimated 2 million worldwide are affected by end stage renal disease (ESRD). More than 100,000 patients in the United States are on the kidney transplant list, but last year there were only about 21,000 donor organs available for transplant. The need for donor kidneys in the United States is rising at 8 percent per year.
Erica’s father is now 68 and has been fortunate enough to find a kidney match from his sister. But while waiting, the treatment he has endured has forced him to retire and has forced his wife to become a caretaker at home.
“This fundraiser is near and dear to my heart and to everyone in our family,” Erica said. “I hope to see many families of kidney patients come out and support this cause. We would love to share stories and dedicate this event to World Kidney Day.”
World Kidney Day is March 12. Click here to read about the exciting new research.