A heartfelt plea to the community to “Share your Spare”: Gino Serafini’s Battle Against FSGS
By Autumn Gavlock
LOCK HAVEN – In a sudden and unexpected twist, 20-year-old Gino Serafini, of Lock Haven, the son of Renee and Billy Serafini, has found himself in dire need of urgent dialysis at the hospital. His kidney function plummeted unexpectedly, leaving his family scrambling to address the crisis.
“We were not prepared for this,” expressed Renee Serafini, Gino’s mother, reflecting the shock and urgency of the situation. “His condition escalated so rapidly that we couldn’t follow the standard procedure of preparing for dialysis weeks in advance.”
As a result, Gino has undergone a procedure to insert a dialysis catheter, initiating immediate treatment to address his critical condition. While this approach poses additional complexities, it ensures that Gino receives the vital treatment he urgently requires.
Gino’s journey took a devastating turn when he was diagnosed with FSGS (Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis), a rare and debilitating kidney disease. Now, amidst a desperate struggle for survival, Gino and his family are reaching out to the community for a lifeline.
“We are reaching out to the community in the hopes of finding a compatible donor,” explained Billy Serafini, Gino’s father, highlighting the family’s plea for assistance. “We’re looking for individuals who are young, healthy, active, and preferably with type O blood.”
FSGS is a complex condition characterized by damage or scarring to the kidney’s filtering units, known as glomeruli. Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for FSGS, and FDA-approved treatments are scarce.
Despite exhaustive efforts and multiple hospitalizations, Gino’s condition continued to worsen. Recognizing the urgency of his situation, the family sought care at UPMC Children’s in Pittsburgh, with hopes of pursuing a pre-emptive kidney transplant to bypass the need for dialysis. However, Gino’s FSGS proved relentless, and his kidneys failed before transplantation could be realized.
Now faced with a perilous decline in kidney function, Gino has been admitted for urgent dialysis. Given Gino’s youth, the road ahead is fraught with challenges. It’s anticipated that he may require 2-3 kidney transplants throughout his life, with each living donation providing a window of 12-15 years at best. Compounding the uncertainty is the autoimmune nature of Gino’s disease, which carries a significant risk of recurrence, sometimes manifesting within a mere 48 hours of transplantation.
As Gino confronts the formidable obstacles before him, his family’s unwavering resolve serves as a beacon of hope in the face of adversity. With the support of the community, they cling to the belief that a brighter tomorrow lies ahead, where Gino can reclaim his health and embrace life once more.
In a race against time, Gino’s family is issuing a heartfelt plea to the community for a living kidney donor. Gino is registered at UPMC for transplant, and potential donors are urged to register online, designating Gino Serafini as their intended recipient. Even if they are not a match for Gino, their selfless act could offer hope to another in need. Gino’s official donor link can be found at https://livingdonorreg.upmc.com . In a heartfelt appeal, the family urges anyone who meets the donor criteria to consider becoming a Living Donor and “Share Your Spare. “However, they emphasize that the decision to become a Living Donor should not be taken lightly, urging individuals to thoroughly consider all aspects before making a commitment.
As the Serafini family navigates this challenging time, they remain hopeful that their plea will resonate with someone willing to offer the gift of life to Gino.
