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Virginia single father searching for living kidney donor

Posted at 7:24 PM, May 05, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-05 19:24:48-04

PALMYRA, Va. -- Ten hours. That's how long Ronnell Lewis is hooked up to a Dialysis machine every day. The single father of two suffers from Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis or FSGS, a progressive form of kidney disease.

The 29-year-old Virginia Union University graduate is among 2,400 people in the Commonwealth on the waiting list for a new Kidney, according to a report by WCAV.

ronnell lewis

Ronnell Lewis, 29, with his two children.

"I wouldn't wish (this on) my worst enemy it pretty much restricts your life completely," Lewis told WCAV reporter Cherney Amhara. "When I first started Dialysis, Hemodialysis is pretty rough as well and it takes your blood out, cleans it and it puts the blood back into you."

"I can't parent the way I want to because I'm kind of stuck to a machine a lot of the times and you want to do things for your kids and you really can't at the moment and I guess it puts added extra stress to the situation," Lewis said.

Dialysis Machine

Lewis spends 10 hours a day hooked up to this Dialysis machine.

His family has turned to social media to try and find a living kidney donor.  While the family has received numerous calls from people willing to help no one has been the match he needs. Lewis matches with blood types B or O.

Lewis' mother hopes by September 25, Lewis' birthday, her son will have a new kidney.

In the meantime the family has set up a HelpHOPELive page to raise money for Lewis' medical expenses.

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