WILLIE QUINNEY

We’d like to introduce you to Willie Quinney, the gentleman for whom this page was created. Willie is in end stage renal failure and in need of a kidney transplant. He is currently registering with the National Kidney Registry as a recipient. As Willie is type O-, it is more difficult to find a matching donor thru the National Registry alone. Hence, those of us who love him as a husband, son, father, grandfather, co-worker, neighbor, and friend have teamed up to find a donor.

Please read Willie’s story below and get to know him. Willie is loved by everyone who knows him as well as the many people whose lives he touches in all the ways he quietly gives back.

Willie has been dealing with chronic kidney disease for over 25 years. When initially diagnosed, he was told he’d need to prepare for dialysis and transplant within a few years. He decided instead of accepting that to completely change his lifestyle and diet. In doing so, he gained over 25 years of enjoying an active life without the need for dialysis.

We knew the day would eventually come when he’d need to begin dialysis. What we didn’t know is that it would progress without a whisper of warning from Stage 4 to Stage 5 and then rapidly to complete renal failure. Willie noticed some swelling in his hands and legs a few months ago. A trip to the doctor and bloodwork showed that his numbers were not in a happy place and it was time to start dialysis. Peritoneal dialysis was decided upon as his best option, so he underwent a minor surgical procedure to insert the PD catheter with the plan to begin overnight, home peritoneal dialysis approximately 6 weeks later once the surgical site healed. About 12 days after that procedure, Willie noticed he seemed more fatigued than usual at the end of the week. As he had scheduled appointments with both his nephrologist and cardiologist on Monday, he didn’t worry about it too much, assuming it was a normal part of what his body was going thru. Sunday morning, he awoke to feeling short of breath, increased swelling and overwhelming fatigue. He was transported to the ER where it was discovered he’d rapidly progressed to complete renal failure. He was admitted, an arterial port placed, and emergency hemodialysis was started. Over the course of 4 days, 10 liters of fluid was removed. He will now continue outpatient hemodialysis for another month until his PD port heals, at which time he’ll hopefully be able to switch to home peritoneal dialysis.

This brings us to the present, where our search for a kidney begins. Our hope is that there is someone out there in this big ol’ world who is a match and will generously consider donation of a healthy kidney so that Willie can continue to change the world, one person, one smile, one good deed at a time as he has always done. Someone who will read his story and understand how vitally important his presence in the lives of his family, co-workers, friends, and community truly is. Someone who will know that Willie has spent his life giving and still has so much left to give. He just needs a little help in getting his body to cooperate with the plans his heart has. Please continue reading and learn about Willie. Get to know him. Hear what those whose lives he touches have to say about him. Once you know him, join us in our search, spread the word as far as you can, be tested if you feel it in your heart to do so and help us ensure that Willie is with us to continue adding chapters to his story for a long time to come!