Roy Glazer will undergo a kidney transplant in the near future; his wife, Ellyn, is scheduled to be the donor.
Photo by Jill Huber
Advertisement
February 3, 2009
Roy Glazer of Marlboro is facing a kidney transplant, but the procedure will likely be a family affair; his wife, Ellyn is scheduled to be the donor.
And he has plenty of support during a difficult time: a walkathon will be held in the spring for Glazer, and the Marlboro Jewish Center/Congregation Ohev Shalom and the Chabad of Freehold are committed to standing by him.
Ten years ago, Glazer was diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a disease that affects kidney function by attacking the glomeruli, tiny units in which blood is cleansed. Although the exact date of the transplant procedure has not been determined, Glazer, 61, is undergoing rigorous medical tests and meeting with the transplant coordinator at St. Barnabas Hospital in Livingston in preparation for the surgery.
His doctors expect the procedure to be a success, but the aftermath will be tough; Glazer, a painting contractor, will be unable to work for three months and must take anti-rejection medications for the rest of his life. And as he and his wife review their medical insurance plan to determine how much of the surgery will be covered by their policy, Glazer is aware that transplant is not successful for one of three FSG patients and that the disease can recur for one out of 12.
The National Foundation for Transplants is sponsoring a three-mile walkathon — complete with music, a deejay, and raffle prizes — for Glazer on Sunday, May 3, at the Marlboro Recreation Center, and the Marlboro Jewish Center/Congregation Ohev Shalom, where the Glazers have been long-time members, has vowed to stand by him during this difficult period. The Chabad of Freehold, in which the Glazers also are active, has pledged its support.
Glazer’s condition had been successfully managed with medication, but in 2000, doctors discovered that his system was leaking protein. This past December, he was told to prepare for a transplant.
“The good news is that the doctors said I don’t have to undergo dialysis,” said Glazer. “There’s no trace of diabetes or high blood pressure. I’m healthy enough to go right into the transplantation. Other than the kidney disease, I’m in good shape.”
The FSG was discovered during a routine medical examination, and the news surprised Glazer; he had no symptoms, pain, or fatigue, and there is no family history of kidney problems.
“This disease is a silent killer,” said Ellyn Glazer, owner of Auntie Ellyn’s Mandel Bread in Englishtown, who will face a three-week recuperation after the donor surgery. “If we could, we’d do the transplant tomorrow. We expect a good outcome, but the whole thing is hanging over us. We’d like to get it over and done and move on.”
The Glazers have three adult children.
Glazer said he also feels the pressure.
“I know the transplant is closer, rather than further away,” he said. “I hoped I’d beat the odds and wouldn’t need it, but it’s a reality now. I’ll deal with it because I have no choice — but I’m optimistic.”
If the surgical outcome is positive, Glazer said, doctors told him he will not have to make any significant lifestyle changes.
“But I think about things differently now,” he said. “I don’t take anything for granted and I’ve become more reflective. I think more about my family and my great circle of friends. I know the surgery and recuperation will not exactly be easy, but I’ll keep it together. I’ll use the recovery time to catch up on my reading, and then I’ll go back to work.”
Information about walkathon donations and sponsorship is available at www.transplants.org.
Comment: comments@njjewishnews.com
--TOP--
