By Jaymie Mordue
frontdesk@theenterprise.net

Family is a cornerstone of encouragement and hope for Joseph Sobolewski , who is waiting for a kidney that will save his life.

Sobolewski has been on the transplant list at Wake Forest Baptist Health Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. for two years now and needs an 0 negative kidney.”The average wait is three to seven years, but because of my blood type, it could be more like seven to 10 years and I’m not sure that my body will make it that long,” Sobolewski said.

Nearly five years ago, Sobolewski went for a physical required by his employer and the physician knew immediately that something was wrong, Sobolewski said, “My blood pressure was extremely high, around 250/180.”

Other than a little blood in his urine and some mild pain, Sobolewski did not believe to have been experiencing any symptoms.

Prior to this physical, Sobolewski said he had not been diagnosed with any health conditions.

Some tests performed that day reflected that his kidneys were failing, he said.

He also learned that he had a genetic disorder, called Polycystic Kidney Disease.

According to Sobolewski, his physician said that although not previously diagnosed, he had most likely had the condition for 20 years or more.

In the last five years, not only has he been on dialysis, but his wife Crystal Sobolewski said, Joseph Sobolewski had more than 19 different surgeries and soon will have another.

In the beginning, the doctors tried to save his kidneys and performed several procedures, she said, but they ended up having to remove both.

“I am freezing 24/7, and some days I cannot get out of bed or get dressed on my own. Some days I can’t even walk through Walmart, I’ll either have to go sit in the truck or use one of their motorized scooters. I’ve had multiple blood transfusions, and some days I take 10 different medications,” Joseph Sobolewski said.

Without kidneys, he said that he lacks the normal chemicals and hormones that are naturally produced by the kidneys.

The Sobolewski’s have personally distributed more than 100 donor applications to family and friends.

Because the majority of their family members suffer from different medical conditions, they’ve had to look outside of the family for a donor, Crystal Sobolewski said.

“Many have applied and have been denied. He can only receive 0 negative blood,” she said. He’s young, he’s only 39 years old and there is nothing wrong with him other than he just needs a kidney, Crystal Sobolewski said.

She had to stop working to care for her husband, who has already 10 doctor appointments scheduled for February alone, she said.

Joseph Sobolewski  used to go to a center for his dialysis machine, but he was getting sick frequently. Now, she runs his machine for him in the comfort of their home.

Together, the couple have a daughter, Faith and a son, Joey. They have always felt that it is important to share everything with their children, and the children have been by their father’s side every step of the way.

While he suffers emotionally, physically and mentally on a daily basis, Joseph Sobolewski said that he tries to spend as much time with his family as possible, and is thankful for his wife’s positive outlook.

For more information or to fill out a donor application, email livingdonation@wakehealth.edu or call 1-855-886-6833 or 336-713-5681. Or call Joseph and Crystal at 276-229-2236 for an application.