May 9, 2016 – It has been five years since IBEW 1837 member Bob Amos was first diagnosed with end stage renal failure. In April 2010, he found out that he would need a kidney transplant.
Brother Amos started working for PSNH on St. Patrick’s Day in 2001. The 58-year-old Schiller Equipment Operator needs to undergo dialysis treatments three times per week. The Rochester, New Hampshire resident is now on the waiting list for the Maine Transplant Program at Maine Medical Center in Portland.
“They figure once you go on the list it is three to five years wait unless you have a living donor,” Amos said. “Then they can do it any time.”
You wouldn’t know that Bob has a serious medical condition if you saw him enjoying a yard sale or antique shop during his time off. He also continues to work his rotating shift for Eversource at Schiller Station with the support of his IBEW brothers and sisters.
“The guys at work have been really good,” Amos said.
Bob also has the support of his family including his five adult children. Once stationed in England while in the U.S. Air Force, two of Bob’s daughters live in England.
According to their website, the Maine Transplant Program “has enthusiastically embraced Kidney Paired Donation, one of the most exciting developments in recent years permitting matching of incompatible donor and recipient pairs.”
“Please call the transplant program because even if you’re not a match for somebody, you can be a match for someone else,” Bob said. “You might help someone else out. You never know.”
For more information, contact the Maine Transplant Program:
Maine Transplant Program
19 West Street
Portland, ME 04102
Phone: (207) 662-7180 or 1-800-870-5230