ENFIELD, CT – Ron Mucha’s story is literary one of life and death.

If he is unsuccessful in his effort to find a live kidney donor, he may be facing only five to six more years of life.  His waiting time on a list for a kidney is estimated between six and eight years.

With a donated kidney, Mucha explained to Reminder Publications that he could lead an “almost normal life.”

 To attract attention to his situation, Ron and his wife Donna had launched a Facebook page “ written by their “Dixie Dog” Skip with the message the Mucha’s saved his life though adoption and he wants to pay them back by “sniffing out” a kidney for Ron. The Facebook page is www.facebook.com/DixieDogKidneySearch.    

Donna, who works at an animal hospital, came up with the idea. She said the Kidney Champion Project at Hartford Hospital suggested developing a concept to help spread Ron’s story and search.

The campaign has received responses from other animal lovers, but so far no kidney donation.

Ron had suffered from congestive heart failure for many years. He said in 1998 he began to notice that he was progressively losing a little energy over time.

He was eventually admitted into Hartford Hospital for ventricular tachycardia – a stay that lasted nine months. He was placed on a heart transplant list and because he has Type O blood was told his wait could be a long time.

Skip was allowed to visit him in the hospital in an effort to keep up his spirits.

When Ron did get his new heart there were complications and his stay in the hospital lasted until February of this year.

“I’m lucky to be alive,” he said.

There were issues with his hear transplant that required anti-rejection medication – “my whole body was racked in pain,” – but there was a side effect  – the medication affected his kidney with the result that Ron is now suffering from End Stage Renal Disease.

He now must be on dialysis three times a week four hours a session. “Dialysis takes a lot out of me,” he noted.

Ron explained the kidney for which he is searching doesn’t have to be match for him. Essentially if someone donates a kidney into the national pool, Ron would be eligible to get a kidney that is a match for him.

“I’ll get a kidney, no questions asked,” he said.

His insurance would pay for the donor’s medical expenses, he said.

A kidney from a live donor has the potential to be a permanent replacement, he explained, while a kidney harvested from someone who has died, may only function several years.

Today Ron visits people in Hartford Hospital who are undergoing similar health challenges. He praised the hospital’s staff and said, “I’m living proof that miracles do happen.”

Ron just needs one more miracle.

Noting that he is 62, “but a young 62,” Ron said, “I’m not willing ready to give up.”  

If interested in learning if you could help, contact Kari Rancourt at Hartford Hospital at 860-972-9918.