ARLINGTON, Texas — An Arlington couple has gone public with a life-and-death request, one that tens of thousands of Americans could also make in search of donors who will give them the gift of time.
Pat Svacina, 78, recently got the news from his doctors. His kidneys are failing, functioning at as little as 18%. If the trend continues, dialysis will be next and a kidney transplant is his only hope of finding that extra time.
"It's obviously a little bit startling news when you first hear that," he said.
At 78, doctors at UT Southwestern say his best option is a "living" kidney donor. Receiving a kidney from a deceased donor—one that must be refrigerated and essentially "restarted" during implantation—might not be effective at his age. Additionally, because his kidney failure is believed to be genetic, immediate blood relatives have been ruled out as donors.
"The thing you got to remember in all of this is," Svacina said, "is that there is hope."
Hope that he says comes from conversations with his medical team and from his faith. Svacina is the director of community relations at the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth. That's where he decided to take his search public, posting on Facebook, "I know this is a big ask, but I would be forever thankful because it will impact my life and my family. Receiving a transplant from a living donor will prevent dialysis and will extend my life."
"My faith is really the cornerstone of this thing," he said. "It's given me the feeling that God will help me and God will do his work whatever he wants from me. Whether it's getting a new kidney and living three more years or getting a new kidney and living 10 more years, it's his destiny that I'm living with."
"It would just mean the world," his wife Susan Huston said. And it would also mean the same kind of second chance she received. She is in remission after months of treatment for non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.
"I made it and I'm selfish that I could say I made it I'm happy. But I'd be even more happy if he gets this," she said. "He's always done for others. So if this could happen, I'd be hugging their neck. That's what I'd be doing!"
The average wait for a kidney donor is upwards of four years. More than 100,000 people in the U.S. are waiting for a kidney transplant but only 17,000 receive a life-saving transplant each year. A willing "living" donor offering one kidney to Pat could shorten his wait and give him more time.
"I would tell them I'm forever beholden to them," he said. "Tell them I'm so thankful for their generosity. It's such an unselfish act."
"Indebted for the rest of our life," added Susan. "For our kids and our family to keep him around as long as we can."
You can find more information on donations and the UT Southwestern donor program at this link.