Online campaign aims to help Sylvan Lake
man fi
nd a kidney donor during COVID-19.
ROBIN SCHWARTZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Jews in the D
T
he stunning views from the national
parks in Utah weren’
t all that took
Phil Ross’
s breath away. During a
family trip earlier this year, the 67-year-old
husband, father and grandfather from Sylvan
Lake found himself having trouble breathing
while on sightseeing walks at higher eleva-
tions.
“I couldn’
t go on hikes. I couldn’
t go to the
high altitudes without feeling it,
” he recalled.
Upon returning home in February, Ross
went to see his doctor. A series of tests
revealed some devastating news — his kid-
neys are failing. Ross, who has had chronic
kidney problems likely due to an infection
as a child, was diagnosed with end-stage
renal failure. Doctors say he needs a kidney
transplant within months or he will have to
begin dialysis, a process where he’
s routinely
hooked up to machines to filter and purify
his blood. COVID-19 has complicated his
search for a donor.
“The pandemic delayed my ability to get
on the transplant list because the clinics were
temporarily closed. I could not get in for
testing,
” Ross said. “I was just recently able
to make an appointment and I did get added
to the list, but the wait to find a donor could
take five to 10 years.
”
Ross, a member of Temple Shir Shalom
in West Bloomfield, does not have that kind
of time. He recently retired after running a
family-owned electrical supply company for
most of his career and planned to travel and
spend more time with his adult children and
two young grandchildren. Now, finding a
kidney donor is his full-time job.
His best chance for a transplant would be
to find a living donor. With that in mind,
family members helped launch a social
media campaign called “Papa Phil Can, His
Kidneys Can’
t,
” where people can sign up to
get tested to see if they’
re a match.
“We’
re getting an outpouring of love from
all of our friends and family. There’
s a lot
of concern,
” said Debbi Ross, Phil’
s wife of
40 years. “My hope is that we get in really
quickly and get it done because I know
COVID-19 is only going to get worse and
they could close the clinic again like they did
before.
”
Between the online campaign, emails to
friends, family members and supporters,
and a few local TV appearances, about 130
people are now signed up to get tested. Phil
and his family say they’
re overwhelmed and
hopeful they’
ll find a match soon.
“I’
m blown away — I can’
t believe there
are that many people out there who are will-
ing to help a total stranger. It renews my faith
in humanity,
” he said, fighting back tears.
“I am really feeling positive we will find a
match. I’
m much more optimistic now.
”
According to the National Kidney
Foundation, 100,000 people nationwide are
currently waiting for a kidney transplant.
To donate a kidney, you should be 18 years
or older and in good physical and mental
health.
“People with kidney disease and transplant
recipients are at higher risk for developing
serious complications from COVID-19,
”
reads the National Kidney Foundation’
s
website.
That’
s another concern. Phil and his family
are taking extra precautions because getting
sick now could cause a major setback.
“He’
s very kind, good-natured; he’
s very
honest in all his dealings — and he’
s very
dedicated to family. He’
s a family man,
”
Debbi said. “We don’
t know who the poten-
tial donors are. It’
s all confidential. But we
thank them with all of our hearts.
”
Phil added, “It’
s life and I just want to live
it. Doing something like this is a super mitz-
vah. I can’
t express the gratitude I feel.
”
If you or someone you know would like to help, visit
papaphilcan.com to sign up for a blood test and find
out if you’
re a match.
16 | JULY 9 • 2020
COURTESY OF PHIL ROSS
O li
i
i
t
h
Papa
PhilCan
Phil and
Debbi Ross
“It’s life and I just
want to live it. Doing
something like this
is a super mitzvah.
I can’t express
the gratitude I feel.”
— PHIL ROSS