When Julian Martino was identified with end-stage renal illness in December 2023, he didn’t put his life on maintain—he doubled down on serving to others.
Whereas present process dialysis, the now 25-year-old accomplished a nursing diploma and works as a hemodialysis nurse, caring for sufferers residing with the identical sickness.
“Whereas many individuals on this place battle simply to maintain going, Julian completed nursing faculty and now works within the subject—treating sufferers with the very situation he lives with,” mentioned his father, Dr. Pat Martino, a Brampton-based dentist and graduate of the College of Toronto School of Dentistry, Class of 1992.
Julian urgently wants a kidney transplant. Neither Dr. Martino nor his spouse is ready donate on account of pre-existing medical circumstances.
The household has been suggested by the College Well being Community (UHN) in Toronto to share Julian’s story within the hopes of discovering a residing donor match.
Working out of Toronto Normal Hospital, UHN’s Ajmera Transplant Centre is Canada’s largest organ transplant program—and among the many largest in North America. In 2024, the centre carried out greater than 700 organ transplants, offering lifelong care to hundreds of recipients. Inside the centre, the Kidney Transplant Program is the nation’s largest, having accomplished greater than 5,000 kidney transplants since its inception, together with over 1,600 from residing donors.
Discovering an acceptable residing kidney donor may be difficult on account of elements akin to blood sort compatibility, tissue matching, medical eligibility and the bodily calls for of surgical procedure and restoration. In lots of circumstances, keen donors are dominated out on account of underlying well being circumstances or immunological incompatibilities.
“Julian’s case isn’t simply private—it’s a uncommon intersection of affected person and health-care supplier,” Dr. Martino mentioned. “He’s residing the fact of end-stage kidney illness whereas serving to others navigate it day-after-day.”
Occupied with changing into a donor? Go to uhn.ca/transplant or name UHN’s Residing Donor Program at 416 340 4800 ext. 7568. You can even electronic mail Dr. Martino at dr.pat@rogers.com in the event you want any extra data.
