As 15-year-old Nathan Natale patiently waits for words of hope in the ICU division of Children’s Hospital, in Boston, tonight (Wednesday, June 4), his friends and family will gather to raise money to buy him a new kidney.
Over the past year, Natale has experienced several health complications, beginning with a ruptured appendix in February of this year. His doctors say he is currently in end stage renal failure and his dialysis treatments are beginning to strain his heart.
Linda Rennie, a close friend of the family, said that she has helped the family get people together to help Natale, and that tickets for tonight’s fundraiser are just about sold out.
Financial donations in Natale’s name are being accepted at First Niagara Bank, 767 New Loudon Road, Latham 12110.
The family is also looking for interested kidney donors, for whom they will provide lodging and medical expenses covered, as well as lodging for the donor’s family. To be qualified as a donor for Natale, you must be: in good health; have blood type A+, A-, O+, or O-; between the ages of 16 and 60. If you are diabetic, obese, pregnant, a cancer survivor, have high blood pressure or a smoker you will not be eligible as a potential donor.
Interested parties can send their name, bloodtype, relationship to Nathan, date of birth, address and phone number to [email protected] by June 25.
For more on this story, check back at www.spotlightnews.com, or read the June 11 print edition of the Colonie Spotlight.`