Couple search for kidney donor

NEW KNOXVILLE - Gene Kuck, 65, New Knoxville, knows it may be the kindness of a stranger that can save his life.

Kuck is in end-stage kidney failure, and he and his wife Jane are searching for a living kidney donor.

The couple has been putting flyers around the village of New Knoxville describing Gene's situation. They also have been providing Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center transplant team phone numbers for anyone who might be willing to donate a kidney.

"Anyone who is curious about what it takes to donate can contact the OSU transplant team either at 1-800-293-8965 option 3 or 614-293-6724 option 1," Jane Kuck said.

The couple also is sharing their personal number, 419-753-2613 to answer questions.

"We have come so close to finding a living donor," Jane Kuck said. "One woman in town was ready to sign the papers and at the last minute, she found only one of her kidneys was functioning. She had lost her husband and so wanted to help us."

Jane said the OSU transplant team performs rigorous testing on potential donors.

"They cannot have conditions ranging from high blood pressure to cancer, diabetes or a heart condition," she said.

Due to the sacrifice of time needed for a donation, the kidney donor is compensated for all expenses and lost wages while they recover from the donation surgery, Jane Kuck said.

OSU has completed more than 50 transplants a year and has never lost a patient, be they a receiver or giver, she said.

"The new kidney is actually placed over the top, then they unhook the old kidney, which is reabsorbed into the body," Jane Kuck said.

Gene Kuck said it is most desirable to have a living donor because a live kidney will probably last twenty years whereas a kidney from a cadaver doesn't last as long.

"However, contrary to popular opinion, blood type is not the primary determination of the suitability of a kidney," Gene Kuck said.

Testing is the only way to find if a person is a match.

Jane said a series of health problems have plagued Gene most of his life. About 40 years ago, he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, which is common among many of his family members. High blood pressure also was also an issue, she said.

When Gene Kuck had a stroke six years ago, the couple found out too late the dyes used during his diagnosis to find clots had damaged his kidneys. Two other issues made the situation more serious. For one, it turned out his diabetes medication, Metformin, was not suitable for those with poorly functioning kidneys and secondly, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed wellness checkups and his condition worsened, Jane Kuck said.

"By the time Gene got back to the doctor, we found out his kidneys were only functioning at 7%," she said.

So now, three days a week, Jane and Gene travel to the Fresenius Kidney Care facility in Celina where Gene spends 31/2 hours per session in a dialysis chair. A dialysis uses membranes to filter waste products from the blood, a function the kidneys no can longer do, according to information from Davita Kidney Care. The blood is passed into dialysate fluid. The used dialysate fluid is pumped out of the dialyzer, and the filtered blood is passed back into the patient's body.

"They have to take my blood pressure every thirty minutes to make sure the machine does not take too much fluid out at a time during treatment, or I may pass out," Gene Kuck said.

Jane said they have learned that kidney failure is a silent killer.

"You may notice some swelling in your legs, but there is no pain," she said. "At this point, Gene is feeling well and can drive and get around, so that is a blessing."

The couple is active and hopes to remain so.

This spring, Gene wants to help his son Andy plant crops on the 2,400 acres of land they manage. The couple also owns the Village Market and Deli in New Knoxville, where Gene sits down with friends to chat every week.

The couple said they are hoping a new kidney will make this good life last much longer.