Mid-Michigan man battling Alport Syndrome needs a donor - ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MI

(01/31/13) -  With a new year comes new hope for a Mid-Michigan man with a type of kidney disease.

He needs a transplant.

Adam Daunt and his family know the process pretty well. His older brother had the same disease, Alport Syndrome, and got a kidney from their other brother.

The Daunt family still doesn't know if anyone else close to them could help this time around.

"One of my other brothers is starting the process of getting tested," says Adam Daunt.

Adam, now 26, was diagnosed in February 2009.

He says he's been pretty lucky so far.  He even lost 150 pounds after his doctor told him he needed to prepare for a transplant.

His kidneys have been functioning OK for years, but just this past summer, things took a turn.

His kidney functions dropped sharply in six months.

Adam has a doctor's appointment next month and says the next step is dialysis. He will eventually need a new kidney just like his brother Kevin.

"He's doing fine now. Back to normal," says Jon Daunt, Kevin and Adam's brother.

Jon Daunt donated his kidney to Kevin.

"I was a perfect match," Jon says.

Their story was told by the Flint Journal in 2004.

Jon can't give up his other kidney, so their family is looking to another brother who may or may not be a match and also looking to anyone else wanting and willing to help.

"I think we just need to get the word out," Jon says. "Hopefully someone will step forward and we'll have a match."

"I know it's a lot to ask," Adam says. "Saving someone's life, that's a lot to ask. I would just like people to get tested."

In the meantime, Adam remains positive.

"This whole process has made me become a better person. It's making me a stronger person," he says.

He's hopeful a match will be made soon.

"I'm positive it's going to end up turning out OK," Adam says.

For more information about organ donation and how you can help, click HERE.