Mark R. Derosa, a 35-year-old Mount Washington resident, still needs a kidney, two years after he first posted the plea on a bright orange billboard that towers over the South Side.
A Desperate Plea
The billboard, one of 10 installed across the region by the Living Donor Project, has become a staple in the neighborhood since Derosa’s transplant journey began in 2020. The signs, however, have yet to yield a match for Derosa.
“I’ve had people stop and take pictures, but nobody’s ever reached out,” Derosa said during an interview at the UPMC Presbyterian Hospital Transplant Unit, where he has been undergoing treatment. “It’s disheartening, but we’re not giving up hope.”
Searching for a Match
Derosa suffers from a type of kidney disease called focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a condition that affects the kidneys’ ability to filter waste from the blood. With a wait time for an organ transplant currently sitting at around 2 years and 3 months, Derosa knows that time is a luxury he doesn’t have.
“The disease is progressing, and I’ve gone from dialysis to peritoneal dialysis,” Derosa said, adding that the constant fatigue and pain have become all too familiar. “It’s a constant reminder that I need a transplant.”
The Living Donor Project
The Living Donor Project, a Pittsburgh-based organization founded by transplant physician Dr. Arthur Matas, aims to increase the number of living donors by raising awareness and bridging the gap between donors and recipients.
Since its inception in 2000, the organization has been successful in placing numerous living donors with recipients, but Derosa remains one of its most prominent unsolved cases.
Despite the challenge, Derosa and his family remain optimistic, holding onto the hope that the right person will come forward to save his life.
Last year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that 105,849 Americans were waiting for organ transplants, and the numbers continue to rise.
Derosa’s family has set up a fundraising page to help with the costs associated with his transplant, and those interested in learning more can visit helpmark.com.
