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Fundraiser for Kidney Transplant

November 18, 2003

CARROLLTON, GA -Edwin Powell has diabetes. Diabetics often suffer from kidney failure, vision failure or loss of limbs. Powell has experienced all three.

A 33-year old student at the University of West Georgia, Powell is currently awaiting a phone call that could change, and possibly save, his life. He is on the kidney transplant waiting list while he undergoes dialysis three times a week.

Diabetes has already claimed Powell’s vision, both legs below the knees and his fingers. But he determinedly heads out to class with his guide dog, Rasta.

“People ask me if I am depressed and I answer no because I have nothing to fear,” Powell explains. “My depression came while I was losing my vision because I kept hanging my hopes on new treatments that might halt the loss.”

Powell, a native of Marietta, was diagnosed with diabetes as a teenager and lost his vision to retinopathy in his right eye in 1998 and his left eye in 1999. Then in September of 2001, the silent disease struck again with nephropathy, complete kidney failure. A blood infection cost him both legs and his fingers in 2002.

Powell’s career had included three years in the Navy, work as an airline mechanic and a carpenter. When he lost his vision in 1999, he knew he couldn’t sit and around and do nothing, so he started to college to major in mass communications.

“I’d like to go into talk radio where my only job would be to irritate people,” he said with a smile. “I’m blind but I can talk and I’m not afraid to get reactions from people.”

Powell said he chose to attend college at West Georgia because the University is so far advanced with the services it provides to support disabled students. He has note takers, readers and tutors to assist him with his classes, and he takes advantage of the campus shuttle service.

“I like living on campus in a residence hall,” he said. “With all the time I have to keep taking off because of getting sick, I’m still a freshman but I keep plugging away.”

The Blind and Low Vision Support Group of Carroll County is sponsoring several fundraising activities to assist Powell with the expenses related to a kidney transplant. Jerry Williams, president of the support group, is spearheading the effort.

“We have a car dealership that will be donating a car to raffle in the near future,” he said. “We are going to distribute posters and collection jars around town and try to raise money to help Ed.”

According to Williams, who is also vision impaired, all contributions will be handled by the Blind and Low Vision Support Group. While insurance will cover the cost of the surgery, the cost for mediations for the rest of Powell’s life will be astronomical.

“When Jerry first told me a dealership would be donating a car just to help me, I was bowled over,” Powell admitted.

To find out more information on how to make donations, contact Williams at 770-838-1047 or Randy Cole, vice president of the Blind and Low Vision Support Group of Carroll County, at 770-830-6983.

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