Baystate Has Literally Given Me Life

Gary’s journey toward a new lease on life began on December 6, 2024, the day he received his kidney transplant at Baystate Health.

For more than a decade, Gary had been under the care of a dedicated nephrologist in New York, someone he trusted from the very beginning of his kidney journey.

The kidneys clean the blood and support health by filtering out waste and excess water through urine, regulating blood pressure, producing red blood cells, and balancing electrolytes. Renal failure occurs when they can no longer remove waste or maintain electrolyte balance.

Gary’s creatinine levels were steady for many years, but two years before his transplant, his GFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate),  a measure of kidney function indicating how much blood your kidneys filter each minute, began to fall, eventually dropping below 20 and reaching just 12 at the time of transplant. A GFR below 15 indicates kidney failure, requiring dialysis or transplant.

“It was over a long period of time,” Gary recalled. “My nephrologist was very proactive; he recognized problems early and took immediate steps to address them. At just the right time, he referred me to the Baystate Health Kidney Transplant Program.”

It was this trusted recommendation from his nephrologist that led Gary to Baystate Health as a potential transplant center. Gary had also heard from people in his community who spoke very highly of Baystate’s Transplant Program.

“Gary came to Baystate Health and was a great candidate because he was still in Chronic Kidney Disease, Stage 4 (pre-dialysis), and was very active, still exercising 3-4 times per week. He had just worked very hard and lost over 50 pounds. His kidney problem was due primarily to hypertension,” said, Dr. Boonyanuth Maturostrakul, Transplant Nephrology Director, Baystate Health Transplant Program.

According to the latest statistics from the National Kidney Foundation, there were over 25,000 kidney transplants in 2022.

Dr. Maturostrakul went on to say, “Initially, Gary’s course was complicated by postoperative hypotension, also known as low blood pressure, and he required some IV vasopressors, which are medications that increase the blood pressure by constricting blood vessels. He also developed thrombocytopenia, which is a low platelet count; however, that has resolved.”

His experience at Baystate was, in his own words, “nothing short of exceptional.” Gary explained, “The entire transplant team of doctors, nurses, and technicians was very professional and caring individuals. It’s an experience I would recommend to anyone who is a candidate for a transplant.”

He was especially grateful for Dr. Boonyanuth Maturostrakul and the clinic nurses, whom he described as “exceptional, kind, thoughtful, and very knowledgeable.” Of Dr. Maturostrakul, Gary said, “She provided a level of care I had not received in the last few years, dealing with many physicians. She was patient and very perceptive about my feelings. Her style was one of caring and empathy.”

What stood out most, Gary said, was the “proactive and dedicated approach” of the entire team. “Now the team there is more like close friends and family,” he shared.

Gary now enthusiastically shares his experience with others considering a transplant. His New York nephrologist even asked him to speak to patients contemplating the procedure, believing Gary’s story would help them in their decision. “I am so glad he is doing so well, and back to exercising and doing what he loves - outdoor activities with his wife,” said Dr. Maturostrakul.

For Gary and his family, care at Baystate Health “meant everything.” As he put it, “Baystate has literally given me life.” Inspired by his journey, his children have already signed up to be organ donors.

With a new future ahead, Gary and his wife, Mary, look forward to getting back to hiking near their home in the Adirondacks, traveling to national parks, and giving back through volunteer work in their community.