At the end of 2018, there were roughly 113,000 men, women, and children on the national transplant waiting list. 83% of those are waiting on a kidney.

Jeff Burget is one of those.

Jeff’s kidney issues began when he was seven from a problem related to strep throat. But in 2012, while in the hospital for an unrelated issue, it was discovered that he only had 19% kidney function and needed a transplant. Fortunately, he was able to get the transplant he needed. Unfortunately, last year that kidney began failing also. Now Jeff needs another new kidney.

Jeff actually has a willing donor, but after some testing it was discovered that Christa isn’t a match. But that’s not stopping them.

Christa is willing to donate in a program called SWAP. This is when someone else has an eligible donor, but they are not a match. This means four people on the operating table on the same day. So essentially they will swap around kidneys among four people so that everyone gets the kidney they need.

Jeff and his wife Jennifer, like so many others, understand first hand the struggle that comes with trying to keep up with medical bills and regular bills in times like this. They went from a two-income home to one, but their bills only went up.

In order to help offset some of their expenses and the expenses that Christa will incur, they are holding a cornhole tournament this Saturday, July 21st.

The event will take place at the Zafar Grotto. Registration is a noon and bags fly at 1:00 p.m. Cost is $50 per team, which includes lunch and cash prizes. There will also be food, basket raffles, and 50/50s. If you would like to participate, the contact info is on page 22.

If you want to learn more about Jeff and his family, you can check out his Facebook page, “A Positive Kidney for Jeff.” There he shares his progress and general inspiration to help keep everyone’s spirits up.

If you can’t play in the cornhole tournament, but would like to donate, you’ll find a link to his Go Fund Me page on his FB page.

If you want more information on organ donation, you can check out UPMC’s website.

As Jeff Federwowicz shared with us a few weeks ago:

Receiving a kidney transplant just became easier and less stressful thanks to UPMC Susquehanna.

The Williamsport based medical center recently opened the new UPMC Kidney Transplant Clinic for UPMC Susquehanna patients dealing with end-stage kidney disease.

The clinic, staffed by specialists based in Pittsburgh, will perform the lengthy and detailed evaluation portion to determine if an individual could be a candidate for organ transplantation
and have their name added to the national waiting list.

The clinic will offer a range of pre-kidney transplant evaluation services including blood testing, diagnostic testing, social services, ongoing education, and periodical testing.

The clinic will also provide transplant evaluations and information about living-donor kidney transplants.

You can also visit http://www.organdonor.gov for more information and don’t forget to make yourself as an organ donor on your driver’s license.