16 year old Austin Columbe is a normal kid. He likes football, He says, "Miami dolphins", and eating fast food, but both of those things, he can only watch others enjoy. "Basically I can't do as much as everybody else."
Austin was born with Poly-cystic Kidney Disease. This letter from his doctor says he has less than 20 percent kidney function and will require a replacement within the next few months.
Austin's mom Robin Bittner says , "If he does not get a kidney soon, he will have to be placed on dialysis." She says in the last year and a half, his condition has worsened drastically. "This is very serious, this is my son's life we're talking about."
Austin has to take 6 different medications a day, some of which are injections, just to be able to stay awake. "Sometimes I just sleep in school, so if I'm going to do that, I may as well just stay home."
Bittner says Austin needs a kidney from a donor with an "O" blood type. She's put him on the national organ transplant list but says that could take years. Bittner says, "I'm heart broken every day knowing my son has to go through this."
The struggle has inspired Austin to get into the medical profession. He wants to be a nurse, specializing in kidneys. "I'm already in medical basically, so it's kind of easy for me." First he must get healthy, and so this Christmas, he's asking for a miracle.
For more information on how to help Austin, call the Living Donor Number at 1-800-844-9302 ext. 5669.
Leave your name and number and mention Austin Columbe. (COOL-lumb) Donors must be healthy and will have to go through a series of tests.
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