By Betsy Scheinbart
It was a special Father’s Day for Amiel Whyte Sunday as he picked up his 23-year-old son Duane from the hospital after saving his life by giving him one of his kidneys.
“I feel blessed to have been able to give it him,” Amiel said of the kidney donation. “I prayed I would be able to do it … to be able to give him life, almost twice in a lifetime.”
Both father and son were recovering from last week’s operation at their Laurelton home Monday, thankful that the procedure had gone so well. Tests show Duane’s new kidney is functioning at a normal level.
“I’m feeling real good,” Duane said. “I am really lucky and blessed my dad gave me such a generous gift and a second chance at life.”
Although Duane was a healthy child, he was most likely born with the chronic kidney disease that became apparent in November.
“Duane was always very strong, mentally and physically,” his father said. “In fact, I think that’s what saved his life because he was very close to dying in November.”
He had long battled hypertension, which was probably caused by the kidney disease that had not been diagnosed. He was on and off medication, but two years ago Duane lost his mother to cancer, a tragedy that disrupted the family in many ways.
“The family was disoriented,” Amiel said. “He wasn’t taking his medication, and that’s when it actually came down on him.”
Duane was admitted to New York Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan in November 2000, when his blood pressure skyrocketed to 287 over 180, putting him in immediate danger of having a stroke.
While in intensive care, Amiel said his son’s spirits were low. Although he was not yet sure he could act as a donor, he told Duane he would be giving him a kidney.
“He was down and discouraged,” Amiel said. “I started to tell him this just to encourage him.”
On Feb. 12, Amiel got the official word from the doctors that he was the best match as a kidney donor. Duane’s sister, Janel, 26, was also a plausible match, but Amiel, who is 48, was a better one.
“It was great just to know my father would be so generous,” Duane said. “I knew my dad was there for me because it’s always been like that.”
Still standing strong at 6 feet 5 inches and about 250 pounds, Duane hopes to resume working out soon to “get back in shape.” But for now, he is just taking care of himself and relaxing in front of the television.
In September he may return to school at Long Island University and although he is welcome back at his job as a security officer, he is hoping to get work with the Metropolitan Transit Authority as a bus driver.
Reach reporter Betsy Scheinbart by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 138.
