Hello, I’m Paul Weidle and I am a 63-year old veteran in need of a living kidney donor. I have been on the kidney transplant list with the Veterans Affairs Office in Pittsburgh for seven years. I have no kidney function. It is now a matter of life and death for me to secure a kidney donor.

Due to my current condition, my activities have been significantly curtailed. I was an active outdoorsman and most of my life I worked as a lumberjack. I’m proud to say that I served in the US Air Force for eight years as an USAF Airframe Repair Specialist 60th and 62nd.

Living with kidney disease has been the challenge of my life. In addition to going to dialysis 3 times a week, I need to follow specific dietary guidelines. It is important for me to know what foods to avoid. My wife, Mary, prepares my meals by using substitutes for foods I no longer can eat.

Having a living kidney donor significantly increases the success of my transplant. Living donor kidneys last up to twice as long as those from deceased donors. It would extend my life and give me years to enjoy my family, the outdoors and the wonderful simple things that are a part of daily living.

I would be grateful if you shared my story.
Thank you,
Paul Weidle