The best blessings are the ones that catch you by surprise.
My wife Vivian and I had one of those recently during a live broadcast from the Greater Miami Jewish Federation’s 19th Annual Sunset Over Miami event.
I had spent a few minutes talking real estate with Lyle Chariff of Chariff Realty Group. You know, basically what we do all the time at Fried On Business.
But then my guest revealed that he had posted an update about Vivian on the Chariff Realty Group Facebook page.
Vivian, most of you know, is fighting end-stage renal disease and urgently needs a kidney transplant. We have been using the power of social media to spread the word.
More than you know, we are grateful to Lyle – and many others – who have re-posted our updates.
You see, this kind of sharing will be the key to finding a kidney donor for Vivian. The most likely donor, research has shown, is going to be a friend of a friend. It’s that second degree of separation that is critical.
So the more you post – and re-post – our updates, the better are Vivian’s chances as she battles this life-threatening condition.
“We never really post about anything that we are not involved with in business, but this situation is very, very important and close to us. Anybody that is listening should go to Jim’s website and spread the word,” Chariff said.
“What does it take for you to post and let it go viral? Maybe it’ll end up in the right hands.”
The best way to get information about Vivian and her need for a kidney transplant is to send an email to R1125@renewal.org.
You can also follow us on Facebook and share our posts to your friends and family.
“Could you imagine if you were the one who was responsible for finding this kidney as a result of just a simple post,” Chariff said.
“We’re talking about saving a life. Somebody who’s a beautiful person that’s standing right next to me.”
Remember, people only need one kidney to live, and you don’t even need to be a match for Vivian. Your willingness to become a registered donor could free up a matching kidney somewhere else.
Vivian Fried has been on dialysis for more than three years. It is a brutal procedure, and she undergoes the treatment every day. We need help, and the time is now.
A tough year
This year has been especially tough for Vivian – as if things could get any more difficult. In the last four months, she has lost her father, and her mother had a stroke and is recovering. All this in addition to bearing the burden of dialysis every day.
The routine goes something like this. Vivian never really starts the day well. But she keeps a positive attitude – a “just do it” philosophy.
At the dialysis center, a 15-inch needle is inserted into her left arm, through which her blood is extracted, super-cooled and cleansed of toxins, and then re-inserted into her body. This takes from three to four hours.
Every day.
The procedure leaves her feeling very dehydrated. While on dialysis, she is given caffeine to keep her blood pressure up, which will make you nauseous eventually.
Sometimes have they have to pause the procedure because her blood pressure drops almost to the point of death.
She faces death daily in order to live, but it can’t go on forever.
“I still have an agenda. I still have my husband, and I still have my Mom I need to go see. The world keeps going on, and I need to just get up and do it,” she said.
“I’m asking the community to please post and share and spread the word. I need a kidney to live. It’s very important that we come together and do it now because I’m more than three years into it.
“I’m close to the final point.”
Vivian is a strong and wonderful person. She brings light and love to my world and those around her. For a look at her story, watch her interview on WPLGTV10 in Miami: http://bit.ly/Viv10
Vivian and I want to thank Lyle Chariff for his passionate plea on our behalf, and we want to thank all of you who continue to use social media to share our plight with your family and friends.
As Vivian said during the show, “One person will find out, and one person will be the blessing.”
Click here to listen as Vivian and I discuss what it’s like to live in search of a kidney donor.
Click here to listen as we discuss kidney transplant and sharing the gift of life through social media.
