A Wisconsin state senator is proposing new legislation requiring certain state companies to accommodate for those who choose to be a living organ donor.
Sen. Alberta Darling (R - River Hills), whose husband died last year while waiting for a kidney and pancreas transplant, introduced the measure earlier today, in Milwaukee.
The bill would require state companies with 50 or more full-time employees to allow up to six weeks of unpaid leave fir donating an organ or bone marrow.
Darling says she hopes the measure will boost kidney and liver donations by cutting out the fear of losing one's job if taking time off for surgery and recovery.
Tonight, one Green Bay man is celebrating his one year to-the-date anniversary of receiving his new kidney, and "a new life," says Arketype founder and president Paul Meinke.
As founder of Green Bay design company Arketype, Meinke's work is his passion.
But his life would be interrupted by a call from his doctor in March of 2013. His kidneys were failing fast.
"I didn't believe what he was saying, but I knew he wasn't making a joke," laughs Meinke.
Doctors told Meinke his kidneys were just 14% operational--one percent below the point at which someone can sign up to be an organ recipient in WI
"A nephrologist wanted to put me in the hospital immediately," adds Meinke.
Meinke says he was told it would be a 2-4 year wait for a donation--one that could still be shot down as an unsafe match by the surgeon.
"And that happens many times to people," says Meinke, "and the emotional up and down... is unreal."
Meinke says he was lucky, and eventually found a match with a harvested organ before his anticipated wait time was up, but not before his own brother had to reconsider donating out of fear of losing his job.
I completely understood," says Meinke,"if there is a donor that is not related to your family, there certainly is a risk that you can lose your job."
Senator Darling says her bill would do away with those fears.
"I know what it's like to wait," says Darling, "and I know what it's like to hope."
Meinke applauds the measure, and says it could go further.
"I would like to see paid leave," says Meinke.
Meinke is now using his company to team up with the National Kidney Foundation of Wisconsin in spreading living donor awareness.
The collaborative effort has recently produced a video highlighting Meinke's struggle, while promoting the foundation's efforts to re-brand, and reach out to more potential life-saving donors.
That video can be viewed here.
There are currently about 2,300 people waiting for organ transplants in Wisconsin. Experts say one donor can save eight lives.
