My name is Joe Petz II. In July of 2002 I was given devastating news. I was diagnosed with end stage renal failure and told that I would have to start dialysis or I would die. I was shocked! I could never imagine having to do dialysis. The doctor informed me that there were options. I could do hemo dialysis or peritoneal dialysis. I opted for the peritoneal because it sounded best for me. I did not wan't to go to a clinic 3 days a week for treatments. I had my peritoneal dialysis catheter surgery that month and in a couple weeks I started peritoneal dialysis. In the beginning the clinic was over dialyzing me. So I checked out another clinic close by. Tarrant dialysis changed my prescription immediately. In fact I was able to do no treatments for about one month. Then I went on the 8 hours every night schedule. I felt much better. My labs were great and I could eat virtually anything I wanted. I had what is called dry days...which means I did not have to carry any fluid in my peritoneal cavity during the day. I went on Baylor's transplant list in Ft Worth. After a couple years I found out that some paper work had not been completed and I was never put on the list. We finished the proper paper work and I had all of my labs drawn to prepare for the transplant.

I learned that I had a pretty big infection in my gums and I had 5 teeth that needed to be extracted prior to the surgery. Unfortunately I had no dental inusurance and horrible credit. I could only get enough money together to have the 5 teeth extracted. I could not eliminate the gum disease.

The doctor's at Baylor told me it would be ok, that the transplant would still work.

In 2010...after 8 long years on dialysis I was called in for a kidney. We waited and waited and waited and Baylor drew many many vials of blood. After aproximately 4 hours I was told that someone else received the kidney. I was a back up.

I returned home to Wichita Falls very hopeful that I would be called very soon for another kidney. It was the very next month and I got the call....while I was at work. I told my manager and bolted to Ft Worth!

When I arrived they drew several vials of blood and told me to wait. The next day, we sit in my room...my parents and I...waiting. On the third day they finally took me back and prepared me for the transplant.

When i woke I was very excited....very woozy...but excited. The kidney would not kick in. They performed procedure after procedure on me trying to make the kidney kick in. It never would.

Eventually by the third month I was finally able to go home. It was a very horrific time. I lost close to 100 lbs during the ordeal. I just wanted to go home. The folks at Baylor urged me to get back on the list and try again. I was terrified to try again. I wanted a shot at a more normal life but I knew I could not survive something like that again. I was lucky the first time.

My body has only gotten worse and worse since that surgery. I constantly have bad labs and now...i have no kidney function at all. Currently i have to do 10 hours of dialysis everynight and 1 hour during the middle of the day. I cannot have a dry day, I carry fluid in my peritoneal cavity all day which stops me from lifting weights....which I have always loved to do. My blood pressure is completely out of hand. It runs around 180/110.

I am going through the paper work to get on the transplant list at the Fort Worth Transplant Institute. I have great faith in the doctors there.



Two years ago I met the love of my life. She has helped me in so many ways. Now...we are about to lose everything. Bills keep building up and we have no way to pay them. Medical bills, groceries, mortgage. She has two beautiful and wonderful girls. They are 11 and 13. They are my life now! I love my family! Sadly....I have pulled everyone down with this illness. I have tried to work but if I make too much then my disability pay will stop. There is a 9 month trial period with SSDI that will allow you to make as much as you wan't. Unfortunately I have already performed the 9 months. I worked that long and then became very ill and had to go on full disability. I recently attempted to return to work part time but became very ill yet again.

I seldom have any days that I'm not in pain. My legs swell and my feet just throb. I have started having seizure like episodes.

My fiance just got tested to see if she could donate one of her kidneys but was told that my antibodies are too high.

I am attempting to get on the transplant list but I have to complete all of my dental work before I can be approved.

I am sorry for making this so long. I just want to get our head above water. I don't want to be the reason that my family loses everything.

Thank you for you're prayers and support.

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