Elena Botello

Martin Botello Needs A LIVING Kidney DONOR

Share Martin's story and help find him a living donor. A new kidney can help save his life and our marriage. We need 20 more years together.

Martin is not only my best friend but husband for 20 years. We meet while working at Henry Ford Hospital IT department, and found we had a lot in common. We love cooking and trying new recipes out together, travel, photography especially the eagles nest, and doing fun things with our two Samoyed dogs.

Having kidney disease makes Martin tired, so we can't enjoy many of our old activities. We loved going on nature hikes with our dog and take photos of the eagles nest or other areas of interest.
Due to special dietary restrictions, we can't eat out or enjoy most of the foods we use to cook together. Since being on the transplant list travel is limited. Vacationing anywhere or just getting in the car and explore new places, is basically out of the question these days. We need to be within 4 hours from hospital, just in case we get 'the call'.

Martin started Peritoneal Dialysis in March 2022. PD keeps Martin alive while waiting for a transplant by flushing out the toxins in the body since his kidneys are no longer working. I sanitize the area and set out supplies around 8:30pm. He cleans his port and hooks up to the machine soon after that and he stays hooked up all night. In the morning he unhooks from machine and goes right to work. Meantime, I shutdown machine, drain the waste bag, and clean up the supplies used. Working together like this to save precious little minutes / hours really helps. It is a time consuming process that limits all activity during the week. We are grateful that he can work from home, so we have some time together. If he had to drive into the office, it would be work, eat, machine- that's it! Slow drain alerts keep us up many nights. However, we are blessed with this little machine and a room full of supplies to keep him alive.

As grateful as we are for dialysis, it can feel like a prison sentence being tethered to the machine. Transplant would allow Martin to live and enjoy life once again. Having the energy and freedom to participate in activities with family and friends, travel, and enjoy our life together. We look forward to post transplant when we can go out in the evening with friends, pack up the dogs and go for a drive, explore the backroads, etc. Until then we hope everyone understands and knows how much we miss them and let's do lunch on the weekend is our only option for now (and sorry about the dietary restrictions) .

Please share Martin's kidney story. You can click on the link to get more information about kidney donation. Even if you are not a match someone you know may match. Paired donation can save many lives. Your prayers and shares are appreciated. Hoping your share will allow me 20 more years with this wonderful man. Thank you.

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