I am writing this on behalf of my very dear father, Ray Rydelek. It's been over 3 years on dialysis for my Dad now. He has had to rely on a machine to live, 3 times a week for 4 hours each time. Each treatment brings him suffering and as time goes on I watch him get weaker. I call him after each of his dialysis treatments to check if he is okay and to hear his voice so weak makes me want to cry. My father is just starting home hemodialylsis, which will be six days of week. This will mean more dialysis treatments, but hopefully the stress on his body will be less. My children (in the picture) want their "Papa" back. They ask when their Papa is going to get a new kidney. I want him to be there to watch all of the little things that are so important in their lives. Their camping trips together, coming to see their school programs, Sunday dinners, holidays, etc. I think of the future and want him to be there to watch my little girl become a young woman and to watch my son become a young man. As much as they want their Papa back, I long to have my Dad back!

He has always been such a hard working family man and he deserves to live many years to be with the family that loves him. With today's technology a living kidney transplant will give my father many years to live, but without a kidney soon he may not be here for long. I am very afraid for him.

My Dad will be difficult to match. The lab has said that the probablility of him finding a compatible match is probably less than 10% (not good odds). So far many people have tested for him and no one has matched. No one in our family matches him neither. We are staying hopeful that as more people are generous enough to test for him, that eventually one will match. If you would agree to have your blood tested for him, we could know in just days if you are the one that can save his life. Your blood can be tested right at your own local lab and there is no cost to you for doing this.

Won't you please consider testing for my Dad? Please think about him and think about what a wonderful gift you would be giving him and my family.

He means so much to us, we'd like to keep him around for a long time to come!

Thank you for being such a special person so willing to help others that need you!

Ray received his gift of life on Easter Sunday 4/8/07. What a blessing.
We send our love and best wishes to Ray and his family.

Love, Women On A Mission