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Justin Tourigny swung into action after seeing his subcontractor Roland Davis’s large sign on his back truck window at the end of October 2020 announcing his wife Betsy’s need for a kidney donor with type O blood.
After discussing the construction work with Roland, Tourigny casually mentioned that he had the same blood type as his wife – at that point Roland became very excited.
Tourigny, originally from Franklin, completed three months of physical and mental testing. He later learned that his kidneys were okay and he could donate one.
Plus, the former scientist was a perfect match for Betsy, he said in a phone interview in June. However, he was very interested in the National Kidney Registry’s “undirected donation program”, which would allow a chain to form so that at least two people, including Betsy, could get kidneys and potentially more than that.
“And some of those channels have more than 40 people, depending on the circumstances and the timeframe,” he said.
As Tourigny was going to voluntarily give up part of himself, he said he wanted to help as many people as possible.
“So that means if I could assign at least two people, it seemed like a plus, and potentially eight or nine, even better,” said Tourigny, 39, who now lives in Portland, Maine and owns Halcyon Built. , a construction company.
Betsy Davis, 55, said in an email that she was not frustrated that Tourigny wanted to go through NKR instead of donating directly to her.
“This is a BIG request for someone to donate an organ for someone,” she said. “At the time, I didn’t know Justin – just by name. We had never met. I was just thankful that anyone was even considering donating.
Betsy was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) in 2009 after complaining of feeling “tired all the time.” PKD is a genetic disease, according to www.kidney.org, that causes fluid-filled cysts to grow in the kidneys, potentially causing damage. Cysts reduce kidney function and eventually lead to kidney failure.
The site also states, “About 60-70% of your body weight is made up of water, and every part of your body needs it to function properly,” which is why it’s important to drink plenty of water. “Dehydration occurs when you lose too much of this important body water. “
Tourigny said he enjoys being an indirect donor because it allows “a bit of separation from the recipient” which means he doesn’t have to “worry or stress” about his kidney donation. and whether it “takes or not, or if that person has a short untimely death after” he donates, “or if that person makes poor lifestyle choices.”
The NKR website, www.kidneyregistry.org, states: “The chances of knowing someone who has had transplant experience are high. More than 6,000 people donate their kidneys each year and more than 100,000 people need a kidney transplant each year.
“If there’s someone in your life who needs a kidney, there are a number of ways to do it. You can help them by becoming a living donor, but if you are unable to donate or donating is not the way for you, there are other ways to help. You can share a person’s need for a kidney on social media, in your local community, at church, etc. to help them find a donor.
The NKR was founded in 2007 after Greenwich residents Garet Hil and his wife were “deemed incompatible” donors when their 10-year-old daughter was diagnosed with kidney failure, according to the NKR website. non-profit organisation. The “difficult and thorough search for donors ultimately resulted in a successful transplant for their daughter. This process inspired them to create a better way to make transplants easier for the thousands of people with incompatible donors who are in desperate need of a kidney transplant.
In early May, Tourigny’s kidney was removed at Maine Medical Center, when he said the surgeon made four incisions for the camera, tools and to remove the organ. After two days in the hospital, he returned home. By week five he was “digging holes and lifting things,” and shortly after the six-week mark, he said he was 98% well “and could start running and swimming again. “.
With “20% or less kidney function,” Davis was placed on the transplant list in December 2019. Her transplant took place July 9 at Maine Medical Center. “My husband was still getting calls from people (donors) until the date of my surgery and I told him to call them back and encourage people to continue the process,” adding that there were “a lot of people. in need”.
She said she felt like she had “had major surgery”, but her appetite was “slowly coming back”. Her surgeon told her “it would take two to three months before I regain my energy and feel really good” and that over time her new kidney would grow to make up for having just one good. kidney.
“I have social anxiety and (during) the last year it was off the charts. Anxiety is a ‘side effect’ of kidney disease. I can’t wait for it to get better. They also tell me that I probably won’t have as many allergies which is also great and I’m looking forward to that too! My kidney function was around 37% yesterday (July 21), but it’s fine better than the 14% I was before the surgery.
Betsy said: “It really feels good” knowing that she has a healthy kidney and that she is “forever indebted” to Tourigny.
The idea of donating a kidney has been on Tourigny’s mind ever since he read an article in New Yorker magazine in 2004 about a man who “just came to the hospital” and donated his kidney without even informing his family or his wife (who was against the surgery). “As crazy as it is, it piqued my interest a bit, because I didn’t even know it was possible,” said Tourigny.
He added that he hopes reading this article will make it “personal” for people and help them understand that they can donate a kidney “and come out the other side and it feels good.”
For more information about the National Kidney Registry, a nonprofit organization, or to become a donor / recipient, visit their website, www.kidneyregistry.org.
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