BROTHER GIVING KIDNEY, BETTER LIFE TO AILING SIBLING.Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer Domonic Finks is giving his brother the ultimate gift - life. Today, the 34-year-old Palmdale resident is donating one of his kidneys to his older brother Deren Finks, who is suffering from chronic kidney failure Chronic Kidney Failure Definition Chronic kidney failure occurs when disease or disorder damages the kidneys so that they are no longer capable of adequately removing fluids and wastes from the body or of maintaining the proper level of certain . ``I wanted to give him a chance for a new life,'' said Domonic, an engineer at Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County Fire Station 76 in Valencia. ``I wanted him to have a chance at a normal life.'' Domonic Finks, a former paramedic par·a·med·ic n. A person who is trained to give emergency medical treatment or assist medical professionals. paramedic , said he has seen what kidney patients on dialysis have to go through. ``I'd rather give up a kidney then have him dialyzed di·a·lyze tr. & intr.v. di·a·lyzed, di·a·lyz·ing, di·a·lyz·es To subject to or undergo dialysis. [Back-formation from dialysis. three times a week,'' Finks said. ``The human body wasn't meant to have three-inch needles be stuck in it.'' The brothers will undergo surgeries today at UCLA Medical Center UCLA Medical Center is a hospital located on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California. It is rated as one of the top three hospitals in the United States and is the top hospital on the West Coast according to US News & World Report. . ``I'm getting a gift that very few people get,'' Deren Finks said. ``You can't wrap it up. It's priceless. I couldn't ask for a better Christmas.'' Deren Finks, the dean of admissions and financial aid for Harvey Mudd College Harvey Mudd College: see Claremont Colleges. , was diagnosed with kidney failure kidney failure or renal failure Partial or complete loss of kidney function. Acute failure causes reduced urine output and blood chemical imbalance, including uremia. Most patients recover within six weeks. in 1996 and was told eight months ago that his condition was worsening wors·en tr. & intr.v. wors·ened, wors·en·ing, wors·ens To make or become worse. Noun 1. worsening - process of changing to an inferior state decline in quality, deterioration, declension and that he would need a transplant. ``You can live with it for a while,'' said Deren Finks, 37, of Azusa. ``It's only in extreme cases when they can't halt it that they have to do a transplant.'' While Finks was happy to have his brother's help, he said his sibling's decision was not a surprise. The family always has been close. In fact, each of his siblings offered to help, but his brother was the best match. Deren Finks said he would have done the same for his brothers or sister. Domonic Finks acknowledges some nervousness. ``I stepped up and said I'd do it, but after I had a talk with the surgeon it came real to me,'' Finks said. ``I'm very afraid. It's just scary.'' Still he is glad to help. ``I know that by doing this, not only does it give him a better life, but it also helps out other candidates on the list (of those waiting for donors),'' Finks said. ``This will move someone up.'' Deren Finks said the surgery - particularly his brother's donation - have given him a new outlook. ``My new life resolution is to live life to the fullest and not to let little things get you down,'' Deren Finks said. ``It takes special people like my brother to do great things. It means so much.'' CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO (Color) Deren Finks, left, kisses his brother Domonic, who will be giving up a kidney today for him. Finks suffers from chronic kidney failure. Jeff Goldwater/Daily News |
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