LI Man With Rare Kidney Disease In Desperate Need Of Transplant

SEAFORD, NY — For nine months, Tyler Donohue's life has been turned upside down. The 26-year-old found out he has an end-stage kidney disease that requires dialysis four hours, three times a week.

"It's long. It varies by patient," Donohue told Patch.

He also suffers from a rare autoimmune disease that destroyed his kidney function.

Donohue's adopted parents are not able to donate a kidney. He also had gotten in touch with his birth family but they weren't a match either.

So, Donohue is on the National Kidney Donor list through New York Presbyterian Weill-Cornell Medical Center.

"Hopefully, something good will come out of this," Donohue said.

The 2015 graduate of Seaford High School needs a donor with type O blood type.

Donohue isn't overly concerned about the spike in COVID-19, despite his serious health problems. He always uses a mask and avoids large gatherings.

"I learned a lot about myself in the year that I've had these issues," he said.

For more information, you can call the hospital's transplant coordinator at 212 746-3099.