Two years ago David Seldner was in need of a kidney transplant and searching for a donor. He took a myriad of medications and was on an extremely restricted diet in an effort to avoid beginning dialysis. Luckily he found a donor and his transplant took place at the University of Kansas Medical Center on Aug. 14, 2013.
Now fully recovered, he focuses on a variety of volunteer efforts to help others needing transplants and to promote the importance of organ donation.
During a recent interview Seldner, a member of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, described his kidney function as normal and his health as excellent. {mprestriction ids="1,3"}He said his aftercare is pretty straightforward. Each month he has bloodwork analyzed at the Transplant Center and he sees the transplant nephrologist team once a quarter.”
Today he exercises regularly and has only one medical restriction — he can’t eat grapefruit because of the effects it has on his medications
He volunteers to help people through three separate not-for-profit agencies. He also promotes the importance of organ donations on his own, and often with Ellen Murphy, his friend and former personal trainer who donated her kidney to him.
“Ellen and I remain close friends, closer now than ever. We are united in a cause and we try to talk to people as circumstances present themselves,” he said.
In addition, he said, “some rabbis have asked if I would speak with people here in town who were in a similar situation. Ellen and I have done some of that together also.”
He is now a member of the board of directors of the National Kidney Foundation serving Western Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma.
“I believe it is my responsibility and it is my joy to give back and to pay it forward by serving on the board,” he said.
He is currently promoting the 2015 Magic of Giving Gala, set to take place tonight, Thursday, June 4 at The Gallery. “It’s a special evening raising awareness, recognizing community leaders and volunteers in addition to thanking NKF donors and friends.
He also plans to participate in the Kansas City Kidney walk Oct. 10. He is forming a team with Murphy, and his family, to raise money.
Donations may be made to his team by contacting David at .
Raising money is just one part of his activities with the NKF. He also participates by giving presentations called “Your Kidneys and You” with other volunteers around the region.
“It’s a quick primer on the basic building blocks of kidney health — how and why everybody should get their kidney function checked and what can be done if you do have a kidney problem. Hopefully through early detection, behavioral changes, medications and seeing a nephrologist you will be able to keep your kidney functions in place and not degrade, so that you will not need dialysis or a transplant,” he explained.
“There is a vast difference between having 40 percent kidney function and having 20 percent. You can live a normal life at 40 percent. You are in transplant world at 20 percent and below,” he continued.
Seldner also gives his time to an organization called The Gift of Life. It’s a nonprofit organization that offers educational information to schools, civic groups and spiritual communities about organ donations. He makes presentations with Gift of Life Co-Founder and Director of Education Kim Harbur.
The Harburs’ son Luke received a life-saving liver transplant at Children’s Mercy Hospital in collaboration with the University of Kansas Medical Center Liver Transplant Program.
“We talk to high schoolers about donating organs and how to have an informed discussion at home with family and guardians,” Seldner said.
Seldner also volunteers at KU Med. In particular he is helping to expand the Patient Resource Center within the transplant department. The center’s purpose is to educate patients, physicians, medical staff, faculty and the community about transplant related issues.{/mprestriction}
