West Hempstead Mail Carrier Seeks New Kidney

WEST HEMPSTEAD, NY — Eric Peluso has been a fixture in his neighborhood for decades. The 39-year-old is a familiar face as a letter carrier for the West Hempstead branch of the U.S. Postal Service.

"He's an all-around warm person," Eric's wife of five years, Michele Peluso, told Patch. "When he does his route, he says hello to everyone."

But Eric needs more than a smile to deal with his medical issues. He has been suffering from chronic kidney disease for close to 20 years. It has been manageable with exercise and diet, but now he is running out of time until needing a transplant.

"No one wants to wait, but if we could get a live kidney of somebody who is willing that will work wonders," she said. "He could continue living his life."

Less urgent is what his condition would mean for his ability to work.

"It's a Catch-22. It's a lifesaving thing. On the other hand, I'm not having any income, so it's going to be a little difficult," Eric told Patch.

Eric, who is on a national donor registry, has not required dialysis yet. However, as his kidney function slowly declines, he is being as proactive as possible for his uncertain future.

"If it wasn't for the forced exercise of a postal carrier, I don't know if I'd be in worse shape," he told Patch. "It is something that's going to get worse; I just don't know how quickly. But it has progressed in the last year pretty quickly."

As it gets harder each day, Eric finds himself winded after the shift.

"I really don't know how I do it. I think it's just my strong will," Eric said.

Typically, immediate family would be the most likely donors, but that isn't an option. Eric's parents passed away, while his brother battled kidney disease and received a transplant.

There are older relatives, but they are not willing to help, and while his wife isn't a blood relative, Michele as a diabetic isn't a viable donor.

"People can actually still live a normal, healthy life with one kidney," Eric said. "There [are] probably people out there who want to maybe give back, pay it forward and this would be a great way to do that."

The Pelusos are putting the medical request out and looking for word of mouth, but they know it's an uphill battle to get someone to donate a kidney.

"It's hard because you're not asking 'Can I have your car?'" Michele said.

It would be a "surreal" experience for someone in the community to sacrifice a kidney for him.

"I would probably just break down," Eric said.

Anyone who is interested in becoming a kidney donor for Eric Peluso can visit www.Kidney.org/transplantation/livingdonors, www.livingdonorassistance.org/...
or call 212-263-3621 or 212-263-8134.