My Kidney Transplant Story: Stan Cheslock
Dialysis was draining my body and my spirit, and I wasn’t sure I could go on much longer. But then, a surprising gift of love gave me a second chance at life.
I had early-stage kidney disease for a while, but it was well-controlled when I was living in Connecticut.
My wife and I moved to Florida, and I was looking forward to enjoying the Sunshine State with her. Unfortunately, my kidney function rapidly declined, and after months of discomfort, I was told that I had developed late-stage kidney failure and had to go on dialysis right away.
This was a life-altering shock, both physically and mentally. At the time, I was heavily involved in a major development project in Southwest Florida which demanded significant time and mental energy. We made the decision to sell the project and concentrate on getting healthy again.
My wife took the lead in researching both short-term and long-term treatments. We interviewed nephrologists, dialysis centers, and transplant hospitals.
My daughter Nicole had offered to give me a kidney. She had a five-year-old son at the time, and I said no way. I didn’t want her taking that risk. He is a very active kid, and I thought it would be too much of a strain on her and her home life. She mentioned it two or three times over the next year, and I kept saying no. A couple of friends also offered to become donors and even started the process.
I was on dialysis for two and a half years before the transplant. I was doing peritoneal dialysis, and it was sucking all the life out of me. I felt horrible. Though I had gotten on the waitlist, it looked like it would take six or seven years, and I didn’t think I could survive that long on dialysis.
To give you an idea, when I graduated college, I was 190 pounds. Over the years, I stayed close to that weight and was physically active into my 70s. After more than two years on dialysis, I was down to 155 pounds and had lost nearly all muscle tone. At that point, I knew something had to change.
I finally relented. Nicole went through the testing and everything looked good. The transplant was on June 16, 2022. Nicole chose that date to celebrate my birthday. What a great birthday gift!
After the transplant, I had to stay in the Tampa area for about a month. The transplant literally gave me a new life. I believe I would not have lived more than another year without her loving gift.
The process was difficult for my family, especially my wife, who has been beside me going on 57 years.
If you’re in need, don’t wait to explore living donor options. I resisted the idea when my daughter offered, but ultimately, it was the best decision for both of us.
Stan Cheslock
I feel great now. I’m taking a minimal amount of medication, and I have gained strength and muscle tone. I am back to swimming. I used to swim a lot—a mile every day. I don’t swim as far as I used to, but I do it every day because it’s good exercise.
My recovery has been very good. Nicole’s kidney is doing a great job.
Experiencing kidney failure is daunting and overwhelming. It can be difficult to talk about and even more challenging to experience on a daily basis. If you’re in need, don’t wait to explore living donor options. I resisted the idea when my daughter offered, but ultimately, it was the best decision for both of us. If someone offers to donate, seriously consider the gift for you and your family.
About the Author
Stanley V. Cheslock began his career in insurance and quickly moved to Wall Street. He founded CBA Securities, an investment company based in Stamford, CT., and was a founding board member of The Navy Seal Foundation and, a past board member of the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation. He also served on the board of trustees of his alma mater, Franklin and Marshall College. He has had a wonderful career in finance and public service. Stan met his wife, Dorothea Vicoli, when they were students at Mepham High School in Bellmore, NY. They have three children—Nicole, Steven, and Joanna—and two grandchildren.