Cook County Commissioner Robert Steele, D-2nd Dist., has been battling diabetes for over 30 years.
Cook County Commissioner Robert Steele, D-2nd Dist., has been battling diabetes for over 30 years.
The public official was diagnosed with the disease in his 20s, following suit with his grandmother and father who were diabetics.
Over the years, the disease took a toll on Steele and he found himself in need of a kidney transplant to help his body process the excessive fluid that would build up in his body – especially in his legs and midsection, he explained.
“I had to change that,” he said.
On Nov. 15, 2010 his sister helped to give him a new lease on life when she donated one of her kidneys to Steele. Months after the surgery that helped restore his quality of life, Steele is urging others – especially families and minorities – to be organ donors and help save lives.
Steele joined Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Donor Network and Mt. Sinai Hospital earlier this month to push for more minority organ and tissue donors as part of the 15th annual National Minority Donor Awareness Day. The effort encouraged people of all minority groups to join the Illinois Organ/Tissue Donor Registry and talk to their family members about their decision, noting that minorities make up nearly 60 percent of the people in Illinois on the organ transplant waiting list.
Gift of Hope is a non-profit organization that coordinates organ and tissue donations and provides other related services and education.
Steele told the Defender that he was aware of reports of how some people – especially minorities – were spooked by the idea of being an organ and tissue donor. But the 50-year-old commissioner said it was the very thing that saved his life.
“You can be quite healthy, you can live a firm, strong life … you can live a positive life with a kidney donation,” Steele said.
He got through the interview without labored breathing or shortness of breath, something he said he’d dealt with before the transplant. He’s using his public position to encourage people to become donors.
“Even as a public figure I am still a normal person. When you take away the titles (officials) they’re just regular people. And it is important that regular people know that there are opportunities for them if there are other folks in their families and in their community who are willing to donate,” he said.
Without a match from his sister or other relative, Steele could have been on the waiting list for years.
As part of his duties as secretary of state, Jesse White heads the state’s organ and tissue donor registry. His office points out that thousands of people in the state are waiting for organ donations.
Gift of Hope indicated that in this state, 2,017 African Americans are on the waiting list for a kidney. Further, more minorities receive organs than donate.
Steele adds that far too many of them needing a kidney will die waiting. But that doesn’t have to be, he said.
“Don’t sit at home and wait for somebody to bring it (organ tissue donation) to you and your family,” said Steele. “As minorities, it’s important for us to use our families … and our neighbors and our friends who can actually donate to a cause like this and save a life.”
Copyright 2011 Chicago Defender
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