Virginia State Police Lt. Kevin Warsinsky attributed his constant tiredness to the fast pace and long hours of his work in law enforcement. “For years, I was tired but didn’t think much of it,” says Kevin. “I wasn’t a fan of regular doctor’s appointments, but they do blood draws at work. I found out my blood work showed a decline in kidney function, down to about 24%, which was rather alarming.”
Kevin made an appointment with a nephrologist near his home in Fairfax, Virginia, who worked to slow his declining kidney function. Unfortunately, his kidney disease continued to progress, with his next blood work showing his kidney function at 15%. But Kevin didn’t feel ready to go on dialysis, fearing it would interfere with work and daily life.
Over the next several years, his kidney function continued to drop, bottoming out at 4%. His nephrologist told him he needed to start dialysis immediately, so he and his wife took the steps needed to start home dialysis. “It was an extremely difficult experience, not only for me, but also for my wife,” Kevin says.
Reconnecting with an old friend
Kevin had to file for disability and called state police headquarters in Fairfax to arrange to use the fax machine to submit his paperwork. An old friend and colleague, Sgt. Jonathan Zarkauskas, answered the phone, a coincidence that would change Kevin’s life.
Kevin and Jon had worked together as canine handlers in narcotics interdiction, an intense job where they clocked a lot of hours together. But as they took on new roles in different parts of Virginia, they lost touch. Jon asked Kevin why he needed to use the fax machine, and Kevin told him he was on dialysis.
“He asked what I needed, and I said I was probably going to need a kidney transplant,” Kevin says. “Very nonchalantly, Jon said, ‘I’ll give you my kidney.’ I was stunned. It’s such a tremendous gift. He knew I needed help, and he was there for me.”
Kevin’s nephrologist referred him to MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute to be evaluated for a transplant. Jon also went through the donor evaluation process at MedStar Georgetown. “I didn’t know anything about the transplant process,” says Jon, “but the whole thing went very smoothly. Every question I had was answered. I knew I was in good hands.”
Although Jon was not a match for Kevin, they participated in a paired kidney exchange, with Jon’s kidney going to another person in need and Kevin receiving a kidney from a different donor. “I would have done anything to make sure Kevin got the transplant he needed,” adds Jon. “When the doctors at MedStar Georgetown explained the paired donation program, I didn’t hesitate.”
“It was amazing that Kevin’s friend came forward to donate for him,” says Jennifer Verbesey, MD, Living Donor Kidney Transplant Program surgical director. “We have so many innovative local and national programs that make it possible for qualified donors to give a kidney to their loved one, family member, friend, or acquaintance. We even have people donate without a specific recipient in mind. If a donor and recipient are not a compatible pair, we can put them into a swap or exchange so after they donate, their recipient still gets a very high-quality living donor organ.”
Kevin and Jon were home in just a few days after surgery and back to work in a few months. Every May 1, the date of Kevin’s transplant, their wives and they get together to celebrate.
“It’s a celebration of life for me,” says Kevin. “It’s like being reborn. It’s been six years and I feel great. I’ve told several people who also need kidney transplants that MedStar Georgetown is the only place to go.”
Adds Jon, “The people at MedStar Georgetown have this community of care where you are immediately embraced. It’s a phenomenal hospital. If I had another kidney, I’d be happy to be a donor again.”
Give the gift of life. Be a living kidney donor. Learn more about living donation at MedStarHealth.org/LivingDonorKidney or call 202-444-3700.