Gavin Scudella is among 100K people awaiting a lifesaving transplant. Learn the Plymouth man’s story May 22.

Please join Gavin Scudella and family for the “Donate Life with Love” event at 11:30 a.m. May 22 at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Plymouth.

The event’s purpose is to raise awareness of the organ donation process and living donor programs.

It is in honor of Gavin, who is on the transplant list in need of a new kidney as a result of organ failure, and for all others waiting for an organ donation.

Gavin’s story

Gavin Scudella

Living with hereditary high blood pressure, Gavin retired early from Kettle Moraine Correctional Institution as a result of decreased kidney function.

In the past year, Gavin’s kidney function greatly declined to the point that his kidneys were functioning at 5% capacity.

In December 2021, he began dialysis, the process of mechanically cleansing toxins from the blood.

He was also placed on a kidney donor list.

Why and how to donate

The May 22 “Donate Life with Love” event will follow the 10:15 a.m. worship at First Congregational. It will explain the need for organ donation as well as the process for signing up to be a donor at the time of death or becoming a living donor.

Stories from living donor Paul Osterholm and kidney recipient Nicole Braatz, Gavin’s cousin, will also be shared.

More than 100K awaiting a transplant

Donatelife.net, a website focusing on the sharing of donation information, states “More than 100,000 people are waiting for a lifesaving transplant.”

The site also shared that a new person is added to the Organ Donation Waitlist every 9 minutes, with 17 people dying every day while waiting on that list.

April is National Donate Life Month. It is never too late to start thinking about giving the gift of life to someone else.

If you have any questions about the first steps that can be taken in the donation process, join Gavin and family to learn more about how you can become a donor.

If unable to attend the event, consider visiting the Donate a Life website for more information.

Story continues

More: A Kiel boy, now 7, is beating the odds after a lifesaving kidney transplant from his father. Here’s William Sitzman’s story.

More: Woman inspired by donation stories gives kidney to stranger

Other resources

You can find more information at the Share your Spare, Fond du Lac Facebook page, a locally connected group of people sharing their personal donation stories and those of their friends and family, along with helpful information about organ donation.

In addition, you can reach the Living Donor Office of Froedtert Hospital at 414-805-0310. An expert team is on hand to provide any information you might need about the donation process and how to begin the evaluation procedure for becoming a living donor.

Adam LaVine is Gavin Scudella’s future son-in-law.

This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Sheboygan County man needs kidney transplant; event May 22 in Plymouth