By Mike Russo
Michael Manus, 62, has a special piece of his son-in-law, Anthony Puliatte, inside of him - that piece being Puliatte's kidney, donated to him in a life-saving procedure.
Manus, a 40-year resident of Lynbrook, was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) eight years ago. A life-threatening illness that attacks the kidneys, he first discovered that he may have PKD when his oldest daughter, Jennifer, was diagnosed during her pregnancy. He said he didn't get tested for over five years because he didn't think he could do anything about it anyway. He was wrong. At his family's urging, he went to see a nephrologist, who told him that he should have come in a long time ago. Doctors told Manus that he had two options - either have a kidney transplant or go on dialysis. Both options posed grave risks. A kidney transplant can be a dangerous procedure that could possibly result in a recepient or donor's death. Manus, whose condition had worsened to end-stage renal failure, was told that he likely wasn't strong enough to handle the dialysis treatment.
Many patients often sit on a waiting list for a kidney donation, but not Manus. Without hesitation, Puliatte volunteered to be the donor.
Puliatte, 33, a resident of Baldwin, and Manus, each underwent five hours of surgery. Though Puliatte had to have a rib permanently removed to get to his kidney, the surgeries went very smoothly. Puliatte even went home the next day. "I am so proud of my husband," said Puliatte's wife, Alison. "It's an amazing thing. He's a hero. I really look at him as being a true hero because he didn't have to do this at all. He really saved my father's life."
Anthony said he wasn't nervous about the procedure and simply saw it as something he needed to do. "We don't really talk about it," he said. "It's done. We did it. Obviously, toward the end, [Manus] needed a transplant and I went to be tested."
Manus said that despite repeated attempts to talk his Puliatte out of going through with the procedure, he felt extremely fortunate that Puliatte didn't listen to him. "I can't believe it," said Manus. "I think it's probably one of the most generous acts I've ever experienced."
As a result of the surgery, doctors are telling Manus that he no longer has PKD. Though he is on anti-rejection medication, Manus says that the procedure not only saved his life, but has given him an opportunity to experience things he's never been able to before. He no longer has high blood pressure, which he struggled with for a long time. Manus also lived on a limited and bland diet because of his condition, but says he can now eat virtually whatever he wants - to the point where he needs to now watch his weight.
Despite all the opportunities available to him in his new life, Manus will never forget the sacrifice made by his son-in-law. "How wonderful it is that there's people out there that are willing to donate an organ to someone else," said Manus. "Because when you're donating an organ, you're changing the recepient's life. [Puliatte] actually changed my life. How fortunate I am to know such a giving person because he probably saved my life."
The Puliatte family and Manus will be attending a PKD Walkathon this Saturday, October 18 at Hudson River Park in Manhattan at Pier 46. The 2-mile walk will be held at 10:30 a.m. Anthony Puliatte will be walking and Manus, still recovering, will be cheering from the sidelines.
For more information about PKD, visit www.pkdcure.org.
Comments about this story? MRusso@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 283.
