8 | April 26, 2018 | The wilmette beacon wilmette wilmettebeacon.com Wilmette rabbi champions kidney advocacy following transplant Hilary Anderson Freelance Reporter Things happen sometimes, but no one knows for sure why. Then two people’s lives cross paths and the reason usually makes itself known. Such is the case of Wilmette resident Rabbi Andy Bossov. In 1994, Bossov received a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and given medication. “I was one out of about 10,000 people on a medication who was allergic to it,” Bossov said. “That allergic reaction affected my kidneys.” Bossov went to a gastroenterologist who tested him, did a biopsy and discovered his kidneys had only a 27 percent functionality. Bossov’s numbers stabilized once he was off the harmful medication. That lasted until the fall of 2005 when his numbers changed. Bossov’s name went on a transplant list and he had to undergo dialysis. At the time, Bossov was a member of an interfaith clergy group in Mt. Laurel, N.J. near where his congregation was located. One of its members was Rev. Karen Onesti, a Methodist minister. “We would meet the fourth Wednesday of every month,” Onesti said. “I had a conflict and missed the November 2005 meeting. In January 2006 I arrived at our meeting early and heard a couple members asking Rabbi Andy [Bossov] how he was feeling.” Onesti was surprised to hear about Bossov’s kidney problems and that he was on a transplant list. “I asked him what his blood type was,” Onesti said. “He replied A-positive and said he does not have any family member who could donate a kidney.” “Karen told me that she would give him one of her kidneys,” Bossov said. “She said her family members live to be in their 90s. Karen told me to pray on it and that her husband, Frank, would agree.” The two prayed. The next morning Onesti told Bossov her husband said yes. Onesti went through the testing and was almost a perfect match except there were growths in her abdominal area. Fibroids were growing in her uterus. She had them removed. Onesti got tested again and found to be “clean.” Bossov’s name for a live kidney transplant consequently moved higher up on the list. “A kidney from a live donor, which never was on ice, is more likely to start working almost immediately,” Bossovs said. “The blood flow usually starts sooner. A cadaver kidney sometimes takes longer to start working.” Bossov fondly remembers the Kidney transplant bills in front of U.S. House • H.R. 3976 would protect patient access to health coverage by requiring insurance companies to accept payments from nonprofit charitable organizations like AKF that serve people who are living with serious health conditions and need charitable assistance to stay insured. This would help ensure that financially vulnerable patients with chronic conditions such as kidney disease are protected against discrimination. • H.R. 1270 would protect living organ donors by prohibiting insurance companies from denying or limiting coverage for life, disability and long-term care insurance. The bill would also clarify that living organ donors may use the Family and Medical Leave Act to recover from donation surgery and maintain job security. 2006 holidays. “It was December 2006, almost a year later and just before Hanukah and Christmas that I received the good news,” Bossov said. There was a service at Bossov’s congregation and a similar one at Onesti’s praying for a positive outcome. The surgery took place on Jan. 23, 2007. Members of Bossov’s congregation and Onesti’s church held a vigil at the hospital while they waited for news of both surgeries. All went well and Bossov’s new kidney started functioning almost immediately. “The doctors told me the kidney was pink, which meant blood was flowing as it should,” Bossov said. “The date, Jan. 23, will always be like a second birthday for me. It is now 11 years later and I feel like a poster child for kidney transplants. There are no problems and my new kidney continues to work fine.” “People said we were meant to meet and share one of my kidneys,” Onesti said. “It is all according to a divine plan.” The two continue to stay in touch, meeting each other at least twice a year. “We are like a kid brother and sister,” Bossov said. Bossov in March participated in the American Kidney Fund’s “Fly In” program in Washington, D.C. The two-day event included meeting other kidney transplant recipients and for engaging in advocacy training. Bossov and his fellow advocates went up to Captiol Hill on World Kidney Day, March 8, to Rabbi Andy Bossov (left), of Wilmette, is shown with his kidney donor, Rev. Karen Onesti, outside of Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette. Photo submitted seek support for two bills: H.R. 3976, the Access to Marketplace Insurance Act and H.R. 1270, the Living Donor Protection Act. Bossov returned home to Wilmette where he grew up and continues to live. He is a New Trier High School graduate and attended Northwestern University where he studied piano, music theory and composition. Bossov now serves as a freelance rabbi, pianist and vocalist. “I worked on our New Trier 40th reunion party,” said Bossov. “We now are aiming for our 48th reunion. We don’t want to wait for the 50th.” Information about the American Kidney Fund (AKF) and its services is available by contacting: americankidneyfund.org Survey From Page 6 sick ordinance that Cook County has adopted, which requires businesses to provide most employees with up to 40 hours of paid sick leave each year? • Nothing, 54.2 percent • Some, 32.7 • A lot, 12.4 • Unsure/no answer, 0.7 6: In general, do you think the Village of Wilmette should or should not follow the Cook County Ordinance requiring local businesses to provide paid sick leave annually to most employees? • Should follow, 67 • Should not, 24.6 • Unsure/no answer, 8.4 7: Were you aware that Wilmette voted to exempt local businesses from Cook County ordinances? • No/not aware, 54.4 • Yes/aware, 44.8 • Unsure/no answer, 0.8 8: Does knowing that the Village has chosen not to follow the Cook County ordinances, so businesses in Wilmette are not required to increase the minimum wage or offer paid sick leave to employees, make your opinion of the Village of Wilmette more favorable? • Less favorable, 44.4 • No effect, 36.5 • More favorable, 15.2 • Unsure/no answer, 3.9 9: Since research shows that restaurant prices tend to increase following a raise in the minimum wage, would you be more or less likely to patronize Wilmette restaurants if the minimum wage is increased or does it have no effect on your decision? • No effect, 74.5 percent • Less likely, 12.3 • More likely, 10.3 • Unsure/no answer, 2.9 10: Since research shows that, in order to avoid losing wages, nearly half of food service employees who are ill come to work sick if they don’t have paid sick leave, would you be more or less likely to patronize Wilmette restaurants if local restaurants provide paid sick leave or does it have no effect on your decision? • No effect, 55.6 percent • More likely, 32.3 • Less likely, 8.4 • Unsure/no answer, 3.7
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