Kidney Walk has special meaning for the Boksteyns
Medicine Hat man has been on transplant registry for four years
For a local couple Sunday’s Kidney Walk has special meaning on a number of levels — some very personal.
John Boksteyn was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) in his early 40s and has been on the transplant register for four years.
Two years ago John began dialysis, which takes four to five hours three times a week. He can’t take a break from it and if he wants to go on vacation, arrangements need to be made at the destination for him to receive dialysis there. Travelling outside of the country would be even more complicated with the couple paying up front for dialysis services.
That he is still able to work full-time is credit to a very accommodating employer, said John.
His wife, Deidra, as well as a family friend and a cousin have all offered to donate one of their kidneys but none of them met the criteria.
PKD is hereditary and has impacted many members of his family, said Deidra.
John’s brother Dan died at age 44 from a brain aneurysm that was a complication of his PKD. His older brother, Rick, received a kidney transplant 16 years ago from his brother-in-law, Eric Patsdorf. His younger brother, Brad, received a kidney from a deceased donor 14 years ago, and John’s mom Yvette had a transplant from a deceased donor in 1986.
John’s dad, also named John Boksteyn, founded the Medicine Hat Chapter of the Kidney Foundation of Canada to honour his wife. Both his parents have now passed away.
A fourth person, a family friend, has recently offered to donate one of her kidneys to John. She is having tests to see if she meets the criteria.
“Got my fingers crossed and am eternally grateful for what the lady is doing. It’s uplifting,” said John.
Deidra calls it a “waiting game” as each potential donor is assessed over a six-month period. Only after that person is found not to be suitable does testing begin on another potential donor.
The Medicine Hat Kidney Walk, through the Kidney Foundation of Canada, takes place Sunday at the YMCA, 150 Ash Avenue S.E. Registration starts at 9 a.m. There will be a ribboncutting ceremony at 9:45 a.m. and the walk begins at 10. The walk is designed for runners, walkers, strollers, families, and pets. The purpose is to raise funds for life-saving research and support programs.
The Boksteyns have participated since 2013. They say it is important to see how much people care and it makes them aware of how many people are affected by kidney disease or know someone who is.
John would like people to be aware that kidney disease is progressive and there are not always symptoms in the early stages. It is important to have your kidney function checked as part of a routine physical, he says.
https://www.kidney.ca/page.aspx?pi d=972