(Submitted photo/ Charity and her Dad Marty Baker)
On October 31st, 25-year-old Charity Baker will give her dad a new lease on life.
She will donate one of her kidneys to her father after he was diagnosed with kidney disease earlier this year.
After being tested at Strong Hospital, doctors found that Charity was a perfect match.
“I was lucky to have a live donor, says Marty Baker, otherwise I would be on a waiting list that could take up to 5 years if not more.”
“This has been life altering to say the least.”
Baker says he started having cramps back in January of 2018.
“One morning I stood up to relieve pressure from the cramps and I lost my balance and fell into a mirror injuring my hand. I went to work and waited a day thinking I just jammed my thumb, but my thumb still hurt,” says Baker.
Baker then decided to visit his primary doctor.
“She said my blood pressure was high, she gave me a prescription, sent me for x-rays, and to do lab work. I went home waiting for results from x-rays and lab work. Later that evening, Baker’s doctor called and told him to report to Strong Hospital ASAP.
“That’s when I learned my kidneys had shrunk and were functioning at about 9% and there was nothing they could do to fix them.”
Baker, 47, was diagnosed with stage 5 kidney disease . He then met with his doctor to go over his options.
“Dialysis is always an option, but is very restricting and life would be more difficult.”
The average life expectancy on dialysis is 5-10 years, says Baker, but people have been known to go as long as 20 to 30 years as well. The average dialysis visit would be 3 times a week , 3-4 hours each time.
He had a fistula installed in May so they could do dialysis when needed.
“My diet and symptoms have kept me off of dialysis for now, the doctors were impressed.”
“I stay away from processed foods. Stay away from foods high in potassium. Eating lots of fresh vegetables and fruit. Luckily, I love salads. Eating bell peppers all the time and chicken is good. I stay away from all deli meats.”
Baker says he still has cramps all the time and is extremely exhausted
Baker has continued to work since his diagnosis, but has been missing a lot of days due to appointments and feels sick each day.
“I cut my hours at work so I can make appointments and I am not so drained. I always feel sick, some days more than others, I don’t really know how I am going to feel from one day to the other.”
Baker and his wife Rosemary work for the same company, MicroPen Technologies in Honeoyo Falls. Baker is an Engineer Technician and his wife is an Operator. He says his employer has been awesome during his medical issue.
Charity and her dad will meet with doctors for their our pre-op on Oct 25th. They will meet with social workers and surgeons and have an EKG and chest X-rays.
Baker will be in the hospital 1-2 weeks until they make sure his new kidney is working properly and the anti-rejection medicine is figured out.
“No driving for a month and will be out of work up to 3-4 months. I will have to go to the hospital three times a week for a while after surgery.”
For Charity, who was just married and is an elementary school teacher in the Sydney Central School District in Cobleskill, NY, she will not be able to get pregnant for a year. Her surgery will be similar to an appendix removal.
(Submitted photo/Left-right/front, Marty, Autumn, 17, Rosemary/ Rear-left to right, Charity,25, Brice, 21, and Tatianna, 24)
Baker’s wife and other three children continue to keep him going.
Due to medical bills, lost wages, and lifelong rejection medication, expenses will add up for both of them.
A GoFund Me page has been started to assist the family. All money raised will be used for helping with their family’s medical expenses, transportation, lifelong rejection medication for Marty and to help with some bills that they won’t be able to pay due to lost wages.