CASE # 1286

My husband likes to say that he has 'more operations than Iraq'. He came to the states in 1982 at age 18 from Argentina as a dialysis patient. He has had two transplants, the kind that leave scars that wrap around the waist. He has a fistula (now with an aneuryism) in his right arm, a failed graph in his left forearm, scars on both knees from permanent pins to correct knock-knee because of bone problems, one on his lip to his chin from cancer, one on his temple from a biopsy, one in chest from the temporary dialysis entry, on his wrists to correct nerve damage,and one from removal of his gallbladder. Marcelo's first transplant lasted only a month, the second 11 years. He has been back on dialysis since 1997. He has suffered through everything from a stroke to gout as byproducts of this insidious disease but still raised 3 fantastic boys into men (our oldest was discovered last year to have one kidney fail and shrink, but the other is functioning fine). Marcelo ran 3 successful businesses and received recognition from Governors Warner and Kaine as well as Mayor Wilder for his contributions to the betterment of the Latino community. Although no longer able to work, Marcelo continues to promote cultural awareness as a Producer and host for the last three years of a Latin Rock and social commentary program on WRIR 97.3 FM.