A Decade After a Miracle: Orland Park Man Fights for His Life Again, Desperate for a Kidney

Imagine coming back from the brink, defying incredible odds, only to find yourself right back there, fighting for your life once more. That's the reality for Bob Meyers, a 64-year-old man from Orland Park. A decade ago, in March 2016, he received a miraculous double lung transplant, a truly monumental medical feat that gave him a precious second chance. But now, just ten years later, Bob is facing another life-threatening challenge: his kidneys are failing, and he urgently needs a living donor.

This isn't just a medical story; it's a deeply human one about resilience, family, and the constant battle against the unexpected. His journey to that lung transplant was harrowing enough. Back in 2014, Bob was repeatedly hospitalized for severe pneumonia, eventually leading to a diagnosis of Mycobacterium Avium Complex (MAC) lung disease. It was a dark period, to be honest, a time when the future seemed incredibly uncertain. Getting those new lungs was nothing short of a miracle, a gift that allowed him to breathe freely again, to live, to simply be with his family.

The cruel irony is that the very medications that kept his new lungs healthy – the anti-rejection drugs and strong antibiotics – have slowly, inexorably, taken their toll on his kidneys. It's a bittersweet truth, isn't it? A choice between one life-saving measure causing another vital organ to falter. Bob now suffers from end-stage kidney failure, a condition that’s forced him onto the UNOS kidney donor list, only to be removed in 2024 because, frankly, he needs a living donor. The wait for a deceased donor is simply too long, too risky given his complex medical history.

For Bob, this isn't just about his own survival. He’s the dedicated caregiver for his 62-year-old autistic brother and an autistic son, a responsibility he shoulders with unwavering love and commitment. His family, particularly his wife Helga and daughter Marijke de Jongh, are beside themselves, desperately searching for a match. "You know, it's just heart-wrenching," Marijke shared, recounting a recent incident where her car broke down in West Virginia, leaving her feeling helpless and far from her dad. Helga, who first met Bob at a campground in Marseilles back in 1999 – "Twenty-seven years," she says, "though he'll tell you it feels like 50," Marijke quips with a chuckle – is a pillar of strength, but the strain is palpable.

The ideal donor for Bob would have B Negative blood. All of his immediate family members have been tested, and heartbreakingly, none are a match. This makes the search for a selfless stranger all the more critical. A living donor kidney, you see, isn't just an organ; it's an extension of life, often providing 12-15 years of function, significantly longer and with better outcomes than a deceased donor kidney. If Bob receives a successful transplant, doctors believe he could potentially live another 15-20 years, a lifetime of memories still waiting to be made.

The process for potential donors, thankfully, is well-supported. All donor procedures would take place at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood. And for those who might worry about the risks or logistics, the National Kidney Registry offers something called Donor Shield, a program designed to protect living donors and ensure a safe, supported experience. It’s about minimizing concerns so that more people might consider giving such an extraordinary gift.

Bob Meyers, an alumnus of Carl Sandburg High School and a longtime employee at Tibor Machine Products, has already faced down death once. He's a fighter, and his family is right there fighting with him. They’re reaching out to anyone and everyone who might be able to help, sharing his story with the hope that somewhere out there, a generous soul with B Negative blood might be reading this, someone who could offer him a truly invaluable second, or rather, third chance at life. This isn't just about donating an organ; it's about giving a father, a husband, a brother, and a caregiver the precious gift of time. Please, if you think you might be able to help, or know someone who could, consider reaching out. Every share, every inquiry, brings Bob one step closer to that vital lifeline.