For the kidney donor, the decision was simple: “I have two good kidneys and a good uncle.”
Dave Henault receives a kidney from his nephew Andrew Reinhardt
Andrew Reinhardt donates a kidney to his uncle and godfather Dave Henault, a business owner from Providence.
PROVIDENCE – For Andrew Reinhardt, the decision to donate a kidney to his uncle was an easy one.
“For me it’s a very simple calculation,” says Reinhardt. “I have two good kidneys and a good uncle.”
Reinhardt and her uncle Dave Henault are scheduled to undergo surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital on September 19.
Henault, the longtime owner of Ocean State Tackle in Providence, has stage 5 polycystic kidney disease, the most severe stage in which the kidneys are close to failure or have stopped functioning. His kidney function is about 11%. At 62, he believes a new kidney can extend his life by another 20 years.
Henault conducted a massive transplant search and last fall joined a program that helped him expand his potential pool of matched donors across the country, but the solution to his problem was just around the corner.
Reinhardt, 38, of New London, Connecticut, has been interested in helping for years, but Henault seemed evasive when Reinhardt asked about his illness.
“I said, ‘What if you give me a kidney and you end up needing it?'” Henault recalls, pointing out that he didn’t discover his kidney disease until he was 40 years old.
Henault also believed that his sister Giselle, Reinhardt’s mother, could donate one of her kidneys. She tried, but the potential donors underwent extensive testing, which concluded that she was not a good candidate.
Reinhardt says: “I think he finally realized that this was not just lip service from me.”
For transplant patients, surgery is only part of the solution. Afterward, doctors must monitor them carefully and patients must take immunosuppressants to make sure their bodies don’t reject the transplants. The drugs can have unpleasant side effects.
“State-of-the-art” program to support Henault’s recovery
To solve this problem, Reinhardt and Henault are participating in a program at Massachusetts General Hospital where Reinhardt’s bone marrow will be removed and given to Henault, hopefully reducing Henault’s need for anti-rejection medications.
“It’s absolutely innovative,” said Henault.
The procedure is offered through Massachusetts General’s Legorreta Center for Clinical Transplant Tolerance, said Brandon Chase, the hospital’s chief communications specialist. The hospital has performed the procedure “rarely” since 1999, but only established the center this month after receiving a “generous donation,” Chase said.
“The kidney donor (in this case his nephew) will donate a kidney and some of his bone marrow to Dave at the same time,” Chase said. “This will allow Dave’s immune system to better recognize the donor kidney and, if all goes well, over time Dave will be able to be completely weaned off immunosuppressants.”
Kidney donation is an “act of altruism”
Dr. Kassem Safa, associate medical director for living donation in the Massachusetts General Hospital kidney transplant program, calls donating a kidney “a pure act of altruism.”
Reinhardt feels closely connected to Henault and is happy to help.
“He is my godfather. He was always there,” says Reinhardt. “He is someone I look up to and who gives me advice. He has taught me valuable life lessons. I am grateful for that.”
Henault is divorced and has no children.
A chance to give “the gift of life”
Reinhardt, who is divorced and has two children, identifies as nonbinary. Donating a kidney and extending his uncle’s life is perhaps the most obvious thing they can do about giving birth, they say.
“This is the only way I can truly pass on the gift of life,” they say. “How great is that?”
Reinhardt is aware of the risks involved, but trusts medical science.
“I’m in the prime of my life,” says Reinhardt. “I eat well. I don’t drink.”
The fact that Reinhardt has passed a series of medical tests reassures Henault.
Henault will have to recover for a long time, but so will Reinhardt. Reinhardt expects to be out of work at a pharmaceutical company for six to eight weeks. They say they have saved enough to make up for the loss of income.
“I am so rich in love and friendship. There are so many people in my life who are willing to take care of me,” says Reinhart. “I have more than I need.”
Henault, who is often asked for fishing tips, took Reinhardt fishing as a child. Fearing health problems at sea, Henault gave up fishing as his illness progressed.
Once both people have recovered, Reinhardt says they may be able to meet up for another fishing trip.
