On October 15, 2015, 77-year-old Bill Graham, Sr. became the oldest living kidney donor ever recorded at the University of Maryland Medical Center as he donated a kidney to his son and HelpHOPELive client, Andy. The transplant was a lifesaving gift for Andy, who had been fighting end-stage renal disease since 2013.
Andy is described as a “kind and generous man” by his mother, Mary Lou. He and his family were blindsided two years ago when he was diagnosed with acute renal failure despite exhibiting no symptoms or sign of the diagnosis. The unknown autoimmune disease that deteriorated Andy’s kidneys required him to receive dialysis three days each week.
Andy received dialysis weekly
Andy became unable to officiate high school football games, a pre-diagnosis passion, and he could no longer maintain his fulltime job as an auto industry manager. Within 2 years, even climbing stairs or walking short distances became a major challenge. Andy needed a miracle –and that’s when his father stepped in.
Andy with his donor Bill and his dog Angel
77-year-old Bill Graham, Sr. offered to donate a kidney to save his son’s life. To become a viable living donor, Bill lost a whopping 53 pounds at the request of Andy’s transplant team. “The doctors were truly amazed at his good health,” said Mary Lou. “He was so happy to be able to give his son the gift of a new life. Surgery was a complete success and the guys are on the road to recovery.”
Bill Sr. and Andy are in good health
In a letter, Mary Lou thanked their generous friends and family members, who helped the transplant take place through their donations. With both donor and recipient now in good health, Andy and his family will still face multiple expenses related to the transplant, including expensive immunosuppressant medications that he will need to take for the rest of his life. Andy and his family continue to fundraise with HelpHOPELive to help offset those uninsured expenses and cover any unanticipated expenses that may arise.
Learn more about Andy and his transplant journey on his HelpHOPELive Campaign Page.
On October 15, 2015, 77-year-old Bill Graham, Sr. became the oldest living kidney donor ever recorded at the University of Maryland Medical Center as he donated a kidney to his son and HelpHOPELive client, Andy. The transplant was a lifesaving gift for Andy, who had been fighting end-stage renal disease since 2013.
Andy is described as a “kind and generous man” by his mother, Mary Lou. He and his family were blindsided two years ago when he was diagnosed with acute renal failure despite exhibiting no symptoms or sign of the diagnosis. The unknown autoimmune disease that deteriorated Andy’s kidneys required him to receive dialysis three days each week.
Andy became unable to officiate high school football games, a pre-diagnosis passion, and he could no longer maintain his fulltime job as an auto industry manager. Within 2 years, even climbing stairs or walking short distances became a major challenge. Andy needed a miracle –and that’s when his father stepped in.
77-year-old Bill Graham, Sr. offered to donate a kidney to save his son’s life. To become a viable living donor, Bill lost a whopping 53 pounds at the request of Andy’s transplant team. “The doctors were truly amazed at his good health,” said Mary Lou. “He was so happy to be able to give his son the gift of a new life. Surgery was a complete success and the guys are on the road to recovery.”
In a letter, Mary Lou thanked their generous friends and family members, who helped the transplant take place through their donations. With both donor and recipient now in good health, Andy and his family will still face multiple expenses related to the transplant, including expensive immunosuppressant medications that he will need to take for the rest of his life. Andy and his family continue to fundraise with HelpHOPELive to help offset those uninsured expenses and cover any unanticipated expenses that may arise.
Learn more about Andy and his transplant journey on his HelpHOPELive Campaign Page.
