Weehawken Police Captain Michael Avoletta Jr. can tell you exactly what he did on his weekends off from the police academy over 25 years ago. He went home to visit his infant half-brother, Vincent.
During those visits, the police motto “to protect and serve,” must have rubbed off on Vincent, because 21 years later, he joined Michael – a captain – in the Weehawken Police Department. Last month – three months after Vincent joined the force – he donated one of his kidneys to Michael.
For Vincent, the decision to help his brother was a no-brainer, but Michael was hesitant to allow his 24-year-old brother – if he proved a match – to undergo the ordeal of a transplant.
“Organ donation really saves lives.” – Michael Avoletta
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But, continued Michael, “[Vincent] haunted me. He kept hammering away. He said that if I didn’t take him to get tested, he would go there [without me].”
Michael ultimately gave in, and one week later, found out that Vincent was an exact match.
The transplant surgery went off without a hitch on Feb. 22. After weeks of recovery, both are eager to return to work, especially Michael, who will celebrate his 25th year with the Weehawken Police Department next month.
‘It’s not your heart. It’s your kidneys.’
Eight years ago, Michael started having chest pains. Doctors checked his heart – nothing. But after doctors ran a battery of tests, Michael learned that both of his kidneys were shutting down. The diagnosis: Kidney disease. Doctors said it could have started when he was a baby with Scarlet Fever, but no one knew for sure.
Michael’s kidney functioning got steadily worse over the years, and roughly seven months ago, he started on dialysis.
The ultimate goal was to obtain a kidney, but in a state where the average wait is five to seven years, a quick solution didn’t seem part of the plan. Michael would have to stay on dialysis until it was his turn.
Yet, there was the matter of time. Doctors said that the average person his age only lasts 10, maybe 11, years on dialysis.
Michael continued on with his life, going to dialysis during the day and working shifts at night.
Stepping up
Doctors told Michael that beyond the waiting list, siblings are usually the best match.
Vincent pushed for testing, and when Michael finally gave in, he didn’t know how positive the results were be. He had always considered Vincent his brother, but the fact remained – Michael and Vincent were half brothers.
“Luck has it that he was a perfect match. God was looking out for us,” Michael said.
After passing the initial test to see if he was a match, Vincent embarked on step two and three of the three-step process. The next step was testing to see if he was healthy enough for testing – which he was – and the third step was testing to make sure he had two working kidneys – which he did.
After that, they picked the date: Feb. 22.
The transplant was successful.
“It’s unbelievable that he would step up and do it. It’s such a selfless act,” Michael said of his brother’s decision. “How do you repay someone who steps up like that? I can’t even put it into words.”
Vincent is just as appreciative of the opportunity.
“I felt great. It’s amazing how, by donating a body part to somebody you love, that they can get a whole new outlook on life,” Vincent said. “He can go back to how things were before he was sick.”
Michael agrees. “He gave me my life back,” he said.
Recovering nicely
After the operation, Vincent was told that he would have to be out of work for about a month, and then return to “light duty.”
Almost three weeks later, Vincent is already raring to get back to the job he loves as a patrolman, and is just waiting on doctor’s orders next week.
For Michael, the recovery time is a little longer – three months. But according to Michael, he already feels “a thousand times better. It’s unbelievable. I feel so good.”
Thankful to all
Both brothers are consumed by a feeling of gratitude for their co-workers and family members who stood by them throughout the diagnosis, the dialysis, the transplant, and the recovery period.
“[We] really both want to thank the other officers in the department,” Michael said. “They really stepped up and donated time so we wouldn’t be docked and so Vinny wouldn’t have to use his sick pay. We feel really appreciative that the guys would step up like that.”
Michael is also thankful to his wife, Mary, and sons, Joseph and Michael, who saw him through the ordeal. Vincent expresses gratitude to the family and girlfriend who have been “very supportive.”
Coming away from it all, Michael leaves a message for the community.
“Organ donation really saves lives. People don’t realize how many people are waiting and really need it,” he said.
Deanna Cullen can be reached at dcullen@hudsonreporter.com.