Local husband and father looking for help to find the gift of life
CINCINNATI (WKRC) – This Valentine’s Day, a Loveland family is asking for your help finding the gift of life. Without it, a husband and father is worried he won’t survive for his longtime sweetheart.
Bonnie and Marty Garneret have been married for more than 40 years. In 2022, they found they had a new challenge to overcome.
“If you’re diabetic, please take it seriously,” said Marty.
While the Garneret family has had generations of family travel, new babies, weddings, and fun times, they have also had several generations of diabetes.
“It’s not something you need to ignore, because then it leads to further things,” said Marty.
As they shared with Local 12 on our Sunday 6 a.m. show, "What’s Happening In Health," one of those things is kidney failure,
“I am seriously trying very hard to keep him off dialysis,” said Bonnie.
Without dialysis, which filters the blood, or a living kidney donor, Marty can’t survive much longer.
Most of his family members have the same genetic pre-condition, so they can’t step up to be a match. Now, Bonnie is finding her role as a wife and mother has a new title: kidney champion.
“I’m happy to do that for my husband,” said Bonnie.
The Garneret family has teamed up with LifeCenter Organ Donor Network.
“We work with all of the hospitals here to give people the gift of life through organs, as well as to give people the gift of healing through tissue and cornea,” said Andi Johnson, the community relations director at the LifeCenter Organ Donor Network.
But as Marty's kidneys slow down, the organization is humbly asking for anyone that would be willing to donate a kidney to help save his life.
“Heredity works against you. My paternal grandparents were diabetics, my father was a diabetic and died of kidney disease,” said Marty.
They hope someone who hears their story will find it in their heart to help change Marty’s history.
A living kidney donor would let them continue their amazing love story.
If you need more information, or would consider becoming a donor, Bonnie is asking you to call Tricia Monson at The Christ Hospital at (513) 585-1440. The couple also has a Facebook page.
