The search for a new kidney is on for a second time for Jason Rumball.
The Stouffville volunteer and radio host is keeping everyone up to date throughout his sometimes hair-raising, sometimes emotional quest on his Facebook page at Jason Rumball Needs a Kidney. He is looking for someone to make a living organ donation. There is information on what is involved and you can learn more about all types of organ and tissue donations on his page.
Right now, Jason is among the 1,600 people in Ontario waiting for organ or tissue transplants, which are overseen by The Trillium Gift of Life Network, a part of Ontario Health.
Jason has already had one wonderful donated kidney make a big change in his life. He loved it very much. It gave him freedom for 19 1/2 years. During that time, there was no need of life-saving dialysis three or four times a week, no more things like fistulas, no more watching like a hawk how much and what he could eat and drink.
“I could travel and be able to work and go to the cottage,” Jason said, gratefully.
Af first he was told his donated kidney would function for about a decade. But it defied the odds, steadily filtering the toxins from his system for almost twice that long.
In a stunning move, that first door to freedom and health was opened on Jason’s 23rd birthday, when his sister, Rachelle Nurnberger, announced she was willing to give him one of her kidneys. That had to be the ultimate in birthday gifts! Jason was born with only one kidney and spina bifida, so when the organ began to fail when he was in his early 20s, he had to be on hemodialysis to stay alive—for one year and ninth months, as he recalls precisely. Then came the miracle of that first kidney transplant.
You can watch Jason and Rachelle describe that birthday announcement in a documentary, The Gift of Life, by Toronto film maker Nadia Zaidi. There were not many dry eyes as the cameras rolled and an overcome Rachelle said, “There is no greater gift”, and Jason found it hard to speak.
Fast forward to now in the second teaser for the documentary. It shows Jason hooked up to the machine, his blood circulating through all kinds of tubes. It made me think: “Why does this young guy have to endure that?”
The documentary will air soon on social media and you can find out more at his Jason Needs a Kidney Facebook page.
But 20 years is a long time to be free and being back on dialysis again was “… a whole new learning experience all over again”, he found. You don’t have to talk to Jason long to realize he works from a position of quiet strength. “I make the most of it…I get to know the nurses”, he said of his dialysis experience. And because he sees them so often, they are “getting to be like family!”
During April’s “Be A Donor Month”, the push is on more than ever to have as many people as possible registered as organ and tissue donors. It’s pretty easy: log on to beadonor.ca and sign up. “The whole process takes two minutes!” said Jason. The wonderful thing is that eight lives can be saved by one organ donor. Seventy five people can be helped by one tissue donor.
His 2019 Citizen of Character Award from York Region acknowledges his community involvement and volunteer efforts. One of them was serving as chair of the Whitchurch-Stouffville Accessibility Advisory Committee. When I heard him speak, I knew there had to be a radio announcer in there somewhere. Sure enough, he has been hosting the Block Party every Saturday night at 11 on Stouffville’s local radio station, Whistle Radio 102.9FM. At the beginning of this year, he hosted his 300th episode of the show which features “the Toronto underground dance music scene”. He is also the technical producer of the Freshwaves program with Bren Masson.
He also advocates for the York Region Gift of Life Association, encouraging people to become organ donors; he himself is encouraged by the people he meets. Some of them have been living with successful transplants for decades, and are living full, healthy lives. Another of his endeavours is visiting schools to tell his story and highlight organ donations.
“I see the kids light up,” he said. “It is very emotional.”
The youngsters who have had a parent, close relative or friend on dialysis feel a more personal connection to his story, he’s found.
“People need to realize that gift will help people live for many years healthy and happy,” he said.
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