Olivia and Mike McInroy just want to get back to normal life. For that to happen, the Vernon husband and wife in their early 30s need outside help.
Mike was born without a kidney, and for most of his life, that birth defect wasn’t much of an issue.
That’s changed over the last three to four years, when some symptoms began flaring up.
Mike is now managing chronic kidney disease in his only kidney, and over the past year and a half he’s been steadily declining, though Olivia said his health has plateaued recently.
For at least the last six months, the couple have actively been looking for a live kidney donor.
So far, no luck. But they’re holding out hope that someone somewhere will decide to make the ultimate gift.
Mike is a construction worker, but kidney disease has left him fatigued to the point that he had to stop working his physical job. He’s been off work for a year now.
“He would like to get back to work,” Olivia said. “He definitely feels helpless in a lot of ways, and his fatigue can be debilitating.”
Mike is feeling a lack of purpose, being unable to do all the things he would normally be capable of. He’s lost out on the ability to enjoy life in many ways. Olivia explained his immune system has been weakened. Two weeks ago he went out with friends and family for some social time and has been sick with a cold ever since.
The McInroys have been told a new kidney would be a return to normalcy for Mike.
“His doctor told us at his last appointment in January that it really would put him back to basically normal to get a donor kidney,” Olivia said.
That’s why the McInroys are holding out hope that someone will offer to be a living donor for Mike.
They’ve learned a lot about the kidney donation process since before Mike’s health declined, and they have many tips for any would-be donors.
For one thing, since they first posted on social media about Mike’s condition, they’ve heard from many people who believe finding a matching kidney is all about blood type.
“You don’t have to be an exact same blood type,” Olivia said, debunking a common misconception.
Another misconception is that expenses like travel, accommodations and meals all fall on the living donor. She said that’s not the case.
“When someone’s really interested in donating and gets so far in, they’re provided reimbursement for a lot of it,” Olivia said.
She added that the kidney donation process is much less invasive for the donor, who doesn’t typically need more than a few days recovery time because they’re simply removing an organ, rather than implanting one and seeing if it will or won’t be rejected by the body.
She acknowledged that it’s a big responsibility for a living donor to keep up with their appointments and stay in good health to see the process through successfully.
But she hopes someone will answer her call.
If anyone is interested in becoming a living kidney donor in support of Mike, they can email info@kidney.ca and mention their wish to support Mike McInroy with a kidney. Or, email direct questions or interest to donornurse@providencehealth.bc.ca or call St. Paul’s Hospital at 1-877-922-9822.
Mike and Olivia have a pair of cats in their Okanagan Landing home, and four months ago a chocolate lab puppy named Murphy joined their family. Olivia said having Murphy around has been a blessing for Mike, who now has more purpose. He takes Murphy for a walk every day, even though it’s an effort that saps his energy.
They’re hoping for a future in which Mike can chase Murphy around the block.