Man undergoes second kidney transplant today

The National Foundation for Transplants is helping him shoulder transplant expenses.

STAFF REPORT

WARREN— Jay Menhennet won’t be making it to the polls today. Instead, he’ll be in surgery receiving a kidney transplant.

It won’t be his first transplant, however.

In February 2000, after experiencing renal failure, Menhennet’s wife, Jenny, donated a kidney to save her husband’s life.

After his body rejected his first transplant in 2007, Menhennet, 43, of Warren, began dialysis treatments three times per week until another match was found.

That match was eventually found in his sister.

Menhennet, who was diagnosed with diabetes at 18 and now suffers from stage 5 chronic kidney disease, knows this surgery is his only hope for survival.

It falls exactly four years from the day his diabetes necessitated the amputation of his right leg.

A kidney transplant costs approximately $250,000, and even with health insurance, Menhennet is sure to retain a great deal of medical expenses due to follow-up care and daily anti-rejection medications he will need for the rest of his life.

These medications range from $2,000 to $5,000 per month.

In an effort to overcome a potential financial hardship, Menhennet contacted the National Foundation for Transplants, which is a nonprofit organization based in Memphis, Tenn., that helps transplant patients raise money to pay for related expenses.

“We work with patients like Jay every day, and it’s heartbreaking to see families struggle with these enormous expenses,” said Carrie Berry, NFT fundraising consultant. “At NFT, we help raise funds for patients so they don’t have to worry about the costs and can instead focus on enjoying their new life.”

Over the course of the next several months, local volunteers will have fundraising events to help Menhennet.

Anyone who wishes to make a donation can mail a tax-deductable donation to the National Foundation for Transplants Ohio Kidney Fund, P.O. Box 344, Cortland, OH 44410. Donors are asked to write “In honor of Jay Menhennet” on the memo line.

Donations can also be mad online at www.transplants.org.