Though it’s clear to all that people don’t live forever, 61 year old Bill (Nochum Moshe) Senzer always thought he’ll live a nice long life.
Not that all aspects of his health were 100%, yet there was nothing indicating major existential trouble ahead. That all changed when at a routine checkup in 2014, Bill was diagnosed with kidney disease. By June of 2015 Bill was in end stage kidney failure and compelled to start dialysis three times a week to supplement the function of his kidneys (though dialysis compensates only a fraction of what the kidneys do, for end stage kidney disease patients, it’s the only way to avert rapid death r”l).
Several years before he was diagnosed with kidney failure, Bill met Rabbi Mendy Lewis, a Chabad Shliach in New Jersey. Senzer says now, “A life threatening illness of this magnitude challenges your faith.” He has come to depend on Rabbi Lewis for his spiritual nourishment. A quick donning of Tefillin or referral of a Jewish article or book is food for his soul, and it is crucial while coping with the toll of the illness.
Bill isn’t a stranger to early death. He was orphaned at 16 years old when his father, Yisroel, was in a tragic car accident at age 52. His father’s absence made Bill appreciate the critical role of a living parent, especially at the critical junctures of one’s life. Bill wants to be able to hold his grandchildren, an opportunity his father was never afforded.
Though dialysis can avert death for a long period of time, it takes a toll on the patient. Bill’s ability to support his family and maintain his financial services business is greatly diminished by the 15-20 hours that he is at the dialysis clinic each week. The procedure is not only very uncomfortable, but it is also very draining. It is miraculous that Bill’s career hasn’t entirely crumbled, as often happens to people on dialysis.
Right now, Bill is unable to travel, as he must be near his dialysis clinic. He hopes that when he receives a kidney, please G-d, he will be able to visit Israel for the first time, an opportunity which his children Michael (Yisroel) and Nicole (Chana) were recently gifted via the Birthright program.
Despite his challenges, Bill doesn’t take things for granted. He is grateful for the love and support of his wife, Beth, and his two children. He has taken to heart the importance of making the most of every day. “My illness has coerced me into more effective time management and becoming more focused on my greatest priorities. I’ve also learned to become more patient with people who have ‘challenges.’”
When Rabbi Lewis learned of the great work of “Kidney Assist,” run by Shliach Rabbi Boruch S. Wolf, he reached out on Bill’s behalf. Bill is grateful for the opportunity and hopes that these combined forces of good will yield the angel that will step forward to save his life.
Rabbi Wolf urges all who would consider kidney donation to reach out no strings attached. He adds; “one must only have one kidney to live a completely healthy life.”
Besides being familiar with kidney donation as a transplant coordinator, Rabbi Wolf is intimately aware of transplant procedure from his own 2009 kidney donation.
For more information on Kidney Donation, contact Boruch Wolf at (516) 360-0299 or [email protected].
Rabbi Wolf, You are an incredible inspiration. Bill greatly appreciates that you have taken the time and interest to initiate this and I really would love to see this humble, sweet and sincere yid receive a very much needed Kidney.
To those reading this, please contact Rabbi Wolf at Kidney Assist if you have any leads for a kidney donor and please please, share this with friends and family and on social media. We need to get the word out so we can save Bill’s life.
Thanks and a gut voch.
Mendy Lewis
Kidney donation doesn’t effect the reproductive organs (thus fertility remains in donors after donation), however all questions of any concern can always be posed to kidney transplant coordinators at any hospital. They tend to know the best about kidney donation as even excellent doctors usually don’t know much about kidney donation because there are fewer than a few thousand of them annually nationwide (i.e. They’re relatively rare). The general risks of the procedure itself is that 3 in ten thousand donors will have a horrible outcome. That’s the risk the donor assumes. Transplant surgery is now done minimally invasive with… Read more »
“without compromising their health (most people are)” to clarify; I meant most people are healthy enough to be perfectly fine with a single kidney (however even many people who would be fine with one kidney are disqualified by hospital to donate out of extraordinary caution to protect donors).
Please note that hospitals evaluate willing donors to see if they are healthy enough to live out their full lives with only a single kidney without compromising their health (most people are). If the hospital has even the slightest concern that donor may need both their kidneys, they DON’T ALLOW the donor to donate, even if he/she still wants to. Their standards are extremely rigid to protect the donor because if they mistakenly approve bad candidate, they can not only get horrible PR but they expose themselves to a huge law suit. Hence they err on the side of caution.… Read more »
Does anyone know, or have reference to info about this quesiton.A daughter of mne want to donate, and I have consulted doctors with no definitive answer, whether there is any reason for a young woman of shidduch age to not put this stress on her body at this juncture of her life, when she will IYH soon be putting a large stress on her systems with starting a family..
Thank you and refua shalaymah to Bill!
Rabbi Wolf
You exemplify selfless dedication to helping others
In addition to donating your own kidney, you work tirelessly to inspire others,
May you be granted many more healthy and happy years together with your wife and children!
Proud of you Rabbi Lewis!