A SISTER’S generous gift is a potential lifesaver for Langwarrin man Darren Puleio. She is giving him one of her kidneys. Simone Lovitt, 42, of Lochiel Av, Edithvale, will donate the organ at The Alfred Hospital on 1 September in what Mr Puleio describes as “an awesome event”.
The 44-year-old 183cm locksmith, who admits to previously being an overweight 150kg – and a heavy smoker – is now a much trimmer 112kg and is off the fags. He watches what he eats and “thinks healthy”.
Mr Puleio’s condition became noticeable in August 2012. He sought medical treatment for breathing difficulties – which he thought at the time “could be asthma” – as well as high blood pressure. But the pills he was prescribed caused an allergic reaction and excessive swelling and he went back for further tests. They rang alarm bells with his doctor whose message was succinct: “You’d better come in.”
He did, and was sent straight to the Frankston Hospital with renal failure.
There, tablets he was given to urinate caused Mr Puleio to lose 13kg of excessive fluid in four days. Scans, blood tests and an ultrasound found that both his kidneys had “gone”. Now he’s on a dialysis machine for five hours every second day and life’s lost a bit of its shine.
The brother and sister – adopted as babies by their common law parents from different biological parents – are a good medical match with a series of tests and studies proving their compatibility. They share the same O positive blood group and the same tissue typing. Their blood cells “mix” well together and Ms Lovitt’s renal function is normal.
Before being matched with his sister, Mr Puleio, of Robinsons Rd, received kidney offers from other potential donors – one his mother-in-law – which, despite being generous, proved unsuitable. “I was pretty lucky to have five possible donors willing to help me,” he said. “They didn’t work out but it was good to know I had their support.”
Neither is taking their medical journey lightly. Mr Puleio said 95 per cent of kidney donor operations were successful, while Ms Lovitt pointed out that every anaesthetic posed dangers but that she was happy to take the risk “for someone I love”.
The four-hour operation will “give him the quality of life he deserves,” she said.
Afterwards, Mr Puleio will go on anti-rejection drugs and make sure he wears sunscreen outdoors as the drugs he’s been prescribed make him more susceptible to skin cancer.
At the same time, Ms Lovitt – a sales representative at Borthwick Food Services, Mulgrave, will take a month off work to recover.
“My employer has been so generous and we could not have done this without their help and assistance. They have been amazing,” she said. Now, grateful for his sister’s “huge sacrifice”, her brother eagerly awaits the operation that will turn his life around.
