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"Dad's taken excellent care of his sister's kidney, otherwise it would have never lasted this long. But now the disease has returned in the form of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, or Bright's disease, and he's losing that kidney," Mills said.
Mills described the disease as inflammation of the tiny filtering units (glomeruli) in the kidneys, causing red blood cells and proteins to leak into the urine.
Tiny bean-shaped organs, kidneys process about 200 quarts of blood daily. If many filtering units are affected, as in Pettigrew's case, the kidneys are prevented from effectively regulating the composition of blood. Blood vessels constrict, causing high blood pressure and the blood's inability to clot. Waste products accumulate in the blood, causing kidney failure.
Pettigrew puts it in simplistic terms: "Bright's disease does to the kidney what alcohol does to the liver - shrivels it up to nothing."
Except for his kidney, Pettigrew remains perfectly healthy.
"His cardiologist said Dad's heart was good and that it would live as long as a new kidney," Mills said.
While he awaits a transplant, Pettigrew undergoes peritoneal dialysis.
"I have a tube running out of my stomach. At noon and 6 p.m. I hook up to IV drip bags and do a fluid-out/fluid-in exchange. I carry 6 pounds of fluid all the time. What the fluids do is flush out toxins, turning my peritoneal cavity into a walking dialysis machine," he said. "At 6 p.m., I drain it all out. Then at bedtime, I hook up to a portable fluid exchange machine for nine hours... sure takes up all your time."
"People usually have two kidneys, but one is all you really need to live a normal life," said Mackey, who is adamant in her support for transplant donations. A transplant could have saved her daughter Kelly, who died last year. "Surely we could find somebody in this community who's willing to donate a kidney for Bill... he's spent most of his life serving this community."
Pettigrew, who received fire and rescue training in the U.S. Air Force, began his service with the Jackson County Rescue Squad as a training officer. From there, he served as treasurer before he became assistant captain, and finally captain, totaling 21 years of service. A number of years ago, Gov. Jim Martin honored Pettigrew with the prestigious Volunteer of the Year Award.
Pettigrew's donor would have to have "O" positive blood and match his tissue type. Age is not a factor, but size is. "A really tiny person's kidney wouldn't function in me, even if it were a perfect match," said 6-foot, 2-inch Pettigrew.
"Previously, family members were only used as donors, but with the new anti-rejection drugs, non-relatives are now able to donate, and a less-than-perfect match is acceptable," said Mills, adding that donors must be free of hereditary diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
While there is some hospital stay required, donors generally recover rapidly and face no lifelong problems.
"Look at my Aunt Joan, who gave Dad her kidney 27 years ago. She's 64 now, thriving and never had any problems," said Mills.
Pettigrew's transplant coordinator at Emory University in Atlanta is Ginnie McGrath, who can be reached toll free at 1-877-509-9877. McGrath can send a blood kit to anyone interested. That kit is processed at the WestCare outpatient lab then sent to Emory for evaluation.
Pope John Paul II's endorsement of transplants last month gave encouragement to more than 70,000 Americans whose only hope for survival is a new heart, liver, pair of lungs, or in Pettigrew's case, a kidney. The pope called transplants "a great step forward in science's service of man" and "a genuine act of love."
"Some people on dialysis think they are doing good and don't want to change or go through the process of having a transplant. But dialysis, in no way, can compare to a transplant, believe me, I know...
"But, if I don't get a kidney, I'll just do the best I can with the love and support of my family and this community," Pettigrew said.
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