I was born, the first and only girl, of four siblings to a Canadian mother and an Italian father in Waltham, MA. We had a large extended family with many aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents always around. We later moved to Framingham, MA where our family would grow up and dad would eventually start up a home remodeling/handyman business. Mom worked as a Nurse’s Aid at Marist Hill and I soon followed her there too. I was 16 and it was my start in healthcare that would last the next 46 years.
The Morreale Clan at home in the 80's
I went to Keefe Tech and received my LPN license in 1976 at the age of 18. I started work at Newton Wellesley Hospital and would spend the next 24 years there, becoming an RN in 1985. I loved nursing and it truly was a calling for me. Over the years, I became good friends with many of the staff and patients I worked with. When I left the hospital, I spent several years as a staff developer and Director of Nurses in nursing homes and then finally landing with a new company, Care Giver Homes, who focused on adult foster care. I spent the next 15 years there, helping to grow the company from 5 clients to over 3600 by the time I left.
During this time, I was aware that there was a history of diabetes and kidney disease that ran in my family. Being in healthcare, I knew about and saw the effects this could have and I did my best to live a healthy lifestyle. Despite my best efforts, I developed diabetes in my late 20’s and worked even harder to keep it under control. Even these efforts would eventually fail and my family history caught up with me. In 2018, I was diagnoses with kidney disease and kidney failure that progressed to a point that in February of 2021, I had to start dialysis.
A New RN Circa 1985
I now do peritoneal dialysis at home four times a day and I am doing OK, but it is not a long-term solution. I need a kidney transplant to survive. My husband and I moved from New England to Arizona in 2020 to enjoy the year-round warm weather and the wide-open spaces. Fortunately, we are close to the world-famous Mayo Clinic in Phoenix and I have turned to their excellent team of doctors, specialists and social workers to help me with my transplant journey. I’m currently going through the extensive battery of tests, appointments, and seminars to help evaluate my qualifications to be put on the transplant list.
So far, all is going well and things are on track for a decision shortly. In the meantime, we have launched this site to help get the word out on my need for a live donor kidney and to help educate people on the process. This is a long-term campaign, as the wait for a transplant can be three to five years and thousands of waiting patients die before receiving a transplant.
So I am asking you to please share my story and my need. Even if it doesn’t directly help me, maybe a donor can help save the life of another person in need and that’s a win too.
Please keep my family and I, along with all the others that are taking this journey, in your prayers. We need all the help and positive energies we can get.
Thank you and God bless,
LINDA
Linda and her 4-legged daughters