Julia Duffy

Frank Vines Needs A LIVING Kidney DONOR

Everyone has a hero

Maybe it’s a character in a novel, a historical figure, a celebrity, an entrepreneur. Sure, I have had plenty of role models, but my true hero is my dad. Growing up, he told me that I could do anything I put my mind to. During my moments of self-doubt, he helped me see that my qualities were not weaknesses, but strengths. He told me I was special, worthy, and taught me to always put my best foot forward. He always expressed his pride and acceptance of me — things a kid sometimes needs to hear, and I am so thankful for those words. But what's more important is that he didn’t just tell me, he showed me.

Fifteen years ago, I found myself separated from my now ex-husband, 5 months pregnant, and scared of what the future held. I found solitude in those great big arms that welcomed me back into his house. He gave me the confidence, that he will always be someone I can unhesitatingly take refuge in. Not only did he provide a loving home for my newborn son and I but partnered alongside of me to raise my son into the young man he has become.
As an adult I have had the pleasure of working alongside Dad and now co-own our family business. In our working relationship I watched in awe as he set his own personal goals and achieved them. Sometimes he’d hit a bump in the road, but he kept pushing forward. Great leaders have vision for what they are trying to accomplish and how they will get there. ... I witnessed that firsthand from him.
As you can see, I have had a unique relationship with my dad that stems way beyond a parent child relationship. When I reflect back, my mind swirls with memories of large and simple moments and these treasures that flash before my eyes fill my heart with utter gratitude. The dictionary defines a hero as a person of distinguished courage, admired for brave deeds or noble qualities. I define a hero as my dad, Frank Vines.

For the past 2 years, Daddy has been sidelined with kidney failure and complications with Peritoneal Dialysis. His kidney team has struggled to keep his Kt/V at a 2+. He is now on hemodialysis due to a recent bout with peritonitis. He needs a kidney from a living donor.

Kidney failure, dialysis, and infection have robbed him of so many things he used to enjoy doing. But he still gets up every morning and puts on his armor of God and fights the fight. Something he has taught his whole family to do.

Being a living donor is a gift like no other. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a live donor, or about starting the evaluation process, please look at his Transplant Center's website below. If you do not match my dad, you can help someone else get their life back through the paired kidney exchange. This is where each donor gives a kidney to the recipient in the other pair. This allows 2 transplant candidates to receive lifesaving organs and 2 donors to give organs even though the original recipient/donor pairs was incompatible. Another way to help is to share Dad's story on your Facebook page in order to spread his story far and wide!!

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