News

PKD Foundation National Walk Manager Donates Kidney to Phoenix Volunteer Walk Coordinator

Walk for PKD brought the pair together for a life-saving match.
 
Phoenix, AZ (January 16, 2008) - They had never met until Dean Benigno agreed to take on the role as volunteer coordinator of the 2006 Phoenix Walk for PKD. Meeting PKD Foundation National Walk Manager, Leigh Reynolds, turned out to be a live-saving opportunity.
 
Benigno, a noted Phoenix realtor, suffers from polycystic kidney disease, which he inherited from his mother. He was facing kidney failure, and needed dialysis or a transplant to survive. He met Reynolds when he decided to get involved with the PKD Foundation. She came to Phoenix, to help organize his first Walk for PKD event.
 
Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is one of the most common life-threatening genetic diseases. PKD causes cysts to form throughout the kidneys and, eventually, the kidneys fail. Dialysis and transplantation are the only treatments for kidney failure. There is no cure for PKD.
 
This month, Leigh and Dean both underwent surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, where one of Leigh’s kidneys was removed and successfully transplanted into Dean’s body. Both are recovering and expect to be back at work soon.
 
While Leigh downplays her generous gift, she tries to shine the light instead on PKD patients worldwide. “We all work hard here. So, I'd really just love to go, give a kidney, come back, work hard and do the best I can every day to do right by those whom we serve, the 12.5 million heroes that live with PKD every day.” She added, “I leave with a few staples and a scar, but Dean still carries the PKD gene and can still pass this onto future generations of his family. He also still faces the multitude of health problems that go along with this disease. My kidney is saving his life, but only for now. That’s why we need a treatment or cure to stop PKD.”
 
The non-profit PKD Foundation leads the fight against PKD through research funding and patient education. In 2008, the PKD Foundation hopes to fund approximately $4 million in vital PKD research.
 
For interviews with Leigh or Dean or other PKD patients in your local area, contact PKD Foundation Media Manager, Jennifer Robinson at (800) PKD-CURE or jenniferr@pkdcure.org.