By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
MICHAEL Marks and his family know how devastating kidney failure can be.
In 2014 renal failure saw Michael suffer from two cardiac arrests, stopping his heart for 35 minutes during which the Hampton Park man was declared clinically dead.
Luckily during this incident, Michael was already at the hospital, and doctors were able to save his life, but the 50-year-old has been constantly reminded of his frailty as he waits desperately on the transplant list for a new kidney.
In the meantime, Michael, his wife Sandra, and their sons Paul and Shayne have been working tirelessly to seek support for a special trivia night fund-raiser they are holding on Saturday 5 March, in conjunction with Kidney Health Australia.
But the four of them have found it incredibly difficult to get local business on board, which has spurred Michael on to raise awareness about the terrible nature of kidney failure.
“Every time we go looking for donations from different companies, we keep getting the same response – ‘I’ve given to the cancer people’ or I’ve given to the heart people’,” Michael said.
“We feel as if the people who have got renal failure, kidney failure, are being overlooked.”
Michael is not undermining the seriousness and the benefits of cancer and heart fund-raisers, he just wants to ensure patients suffering from kidney disease are afforded attention as well.
“I’d just like to see awareness get out there in the community,” he said.
“If you can’t get awareness, you can’t get a cure and if you can’t get a cure, people die.
“It’s a pretty simple scenario.”
It was simple for Michael when he was diagnosed with kidney failure two years ago.
For him, the difference between life and death is dialysis treatment as he waits on the transplant list, a wait he’s already endured for 18 months and one he’s told can take up to five years.
Michael undergoes dialysis treatment at the Cranbourne Integrated Car Unit three days a week, for five hours at a time.
“They pump the blood out and clean it and put it back into your body,” Michael said.
“People don’t understand the implications that renal failure has.”
Michael was first diagnosed with kidney failure in 2014 and since then his life has been a compromise.
Among many concessions, Michael is restricted to only doing paper work for his gardening business, as he is now unable to do the physical work he once relished.
“I can’t sustain any long-term activities, if I was to go for a walk, instead of half an hour I’m lucky to do five minutes,” he said.
“Any strenuous physical work and I’m done for the day.”
However, while his physical prowess has been diminished by the disease, the same can’t be said for Michael’s mental strength.
“It’s made me realise you’ve ‘gotta live life to the fullest – you can’t just turn around and take things for granted,” he said.
The Kidney Health Trivia Night will be held this Saturday 5 March at the Village Green Hotel in Mulgrave from 6.30pm.
Tickets can be bought at the door, and to get involved with the event contact Paul Marks on 0458 454 427, or send an email to trivianight.kh@iinet.net.au.
