‘There’s light at the end of the tunnel’: Effingham County man awaits life-changing transplant

GUYTON, Ga. (WTOC) - March is Kidney Awareness Month, a time to highlight a health crisis doctors often describe as a “silent killer.”

According to the American Society of Nephrology, an estimated 850 million people worldwide are living with kidney disease — and for many, symptoms don’t appear until the damage is severe.

For Randall Fleenor of Guyton, that reality became personal.

Fleenor has been a Type 1 diabetic since he was 18, a condition that can take a serious toll on kidney health over time. Now, he’s on the transplant list, waiting for a kidney — and hoping he’ll also be matched for a pancreas.

“It’s kind of silent until it’s not,” said Fleenor.

Fleenor said he didn’t realize anything was wrong until his kidney function had worsened to the point that he needed dialysis.

Dialysis doesn’t just take time, it changes nearly everything about daily life, including what Fleenor can drink.

“And I really have to watch the fluid that I intake, because everything I intake, the machine has to take off… So a lot of fluid restrictions,” said Fleenor.

For Fleenor, diabetes has been a major factor in how he got here.

“Now, being diabetic since I was 18 years old doesn’t help the kidneys either… They try to filter out sugar… it overworks the kidneys,” said Fleenor.

Beyond the medical challenges, Fleenor said the hardest part has been the impact on his ability to provide for his family.

“I’m unable to work. I lost my job pretty much due to my condition,” he said.

He said paying bills and managing the medical side of the disease can be overwhelming.

“There’s a lot with paying the bills that is tough… but… on the medical side of it… that’s a little rough too," said Fleenor.

While Kidney Awareness Month brings attention to the disease, Fleenor said the reality of kidney failure doesn’t disappear when the calendar flips to April.

“Some people recognize it for a month here or there… but we deal with it every day… I have good days and bad days,” said Fleenor.

Fleenor hopes others living with kidney failure will keep showing up for their treatments — and keep believing there’s more ahead.

“Push yourself to do your treatments. Know that there’s light at the end of the tunnel… that life’s not over,” said Fleenor.

He said his strength comes from the support of his family and the community that has continued to rally behind him.

Fleenor encourages others living with kidney disease to explore financial and support resources, including:

• Georgia Transplant Foundation (transplant support and assistance)
• American Kidney Fund (patient financial assistance and education)