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

