For Goodness Sake: Kidney donor now needs a donor for himself
HOLMES, Pa. (WTXF) - Phil Carbonetta described the situation 15 years ago when his mother's kidneys began to fail.
"After her first dialysis she came out and she was really sad she was crying and really emotional and I said Ma you don't have to worry about this anymore, I'm gonna take care of it," said Carbonetta.
Taking care of it meant that the then 23-year-old would donate a kidney to his mother a decision he said was easy.
"I would've given her both I would've given her both if she needed them," he said.
Years after he donated his kidney, now Carbonetta needs help.
"15 years later and I'm in end stage kidney failure, my kidney is working at 10 percent so I'm in need of a transplant," said Carbonetta.
So many years ago Carbonetta quietly stepped up and saved his mother's life. His friends tell me that's just the kind of person that he is.
"There's no I'll do this for you if you do this for me, it's literally what do you need, here's what I have, take it. That's Phil," said Carbonetta's friend Tommy.
Tommy and Carbonetta go back to high school, they went to school together, coached wrestling together worked together and now Tommy is trying to step up for Phil like Phil has stepped up so often for others. The problem is that Carbonetta is facing even larger challenges than just finding a donor.
"I have really good insurance through my medical but my plan through the ironworkers doesn't cover transplants," said Carbonetta.
So supporters are spreading the word to do any and everything that they can.
"We did a go fund me, Phil's girlfriend Sue started it. We've raised over $9000 in a week which is good," said Tommy.
Still short for the six figure costs associated with transplants but Tommy, Sue and others say they'll keep going.
They have a long way to go but talking to Carbonetta it's easy to see why his friends are so committed to helping the person who just wouldn't ask for help.
"I'd rather be helping you or helping him or someone else, this isn't my cup of tea, I'm real uncomfortable."
Which is exactly why people are rallying in his support. Somebody has to help the helpers, for goodness sake.