Support Through Organ Donation

and their family members needing kidney transplants. More than half these individuals had been on the waiting list for between five and seven years. Unfortunately, the best chance for someone who needs a kidney is to find a living donor, which can be difficult, so some people die waiting.

That’s where Bill comes in. The Masonic Blood+Organ Donor Program essentially provides “white glove concierge services” for Masons and their families going through the transplant process.

“It’s a really rocky road, and people need help because they can easily be swept under the carpet,” Bill said.

“They need to be their own best advocate, but they also need another set of eyes and ears on things. That’s where I come into play. I help them navigate around the stumbling blocks.”

Among his many roles, Bill escorts individuals, many who are coming to Philadelphia from far away, to their doctor’s appointments, pre- and post-transplant.

“My job is not a 9-5 job,” he said. “I field calls on weekends or the wee hours of the morning. I’m very careful with the advice I give. I never make decisions for people. I give them all the options and help them choose what’s best for them.”

Gift of Life Howie’s House in Philadelphia provides lodging and support services for family members of patients awaiting organ transplants in Philadelphia hospitals. A home cooked meal is provided every day and over the weekend. Many Masonic lodges have helped with this service.

Living donors must undergo extensive medical testing, including bloodwork, an electrocardiogram (EKG) and a physical exam. Some people come forward wanting to donate, only to find out they have serious health issues they wouldn’t have known about otherwise.

“I’ve seen that happen many times,” Bill said. “They actually save their own life while trying to save someone else’s life.”

There are only two organs you can donate while still alive: your kidney (everyone is born with two) and part of your liver, Bill said. Individuals waiting for a kidney can sometimes go on dialysis to lengthen their lives, he said, but if you’re waiting for a liver, there is no “bridge” – you either receive the organ or you die.

Natalie Treece is still hoping for a miracle. Natalie and her family began working with Bill in January 2022. Natalie is the wife of Brother Glenn Treece, Brownstone Lodge No. 666, Hershey, who served as Grand Pursuivant in 2018 and 2019. She lives in Marklesburg and has been waiting for a kidney transplant for two and a half years at UPMC Harrisburg. She is currently on dialysis and grateful for the assistance and support Bill continues to provide.

“The process isn’t as easy as having someone with your blood type just donate, and you don’t just get a kidney because you need one,” Natalie said. “It’s a long process. Bill has been an invaluable resource for me, providing me with online seminars, websites and books to help me plow through all the different layers of the process.”

Bill first encouraged Natalie to be proactive about finding a donor. With his guidance, she sent a carefully worded email to family and friends about her condition and the donor process. One of her friends created a poster for social media. Her sister placed display ads in various newspapers across the state.

“Before I had my kidney failure, I had no idea how many people were on dialysis and that you could get kidney disease at any age/time,” Natalie said. “The Masonic program is invaluable. I’d still be sitting in my room doing nothing if not for that program.”

Natalie had a friend who wanted to donate, but a physical examination revealed she had a rare autoimmune disease. She hasn’t received another lead about an organ in more than two years, which has been difficult.

“They [the hospital] don’t share information about where you are on the list or when they think you might get an organ, but you always need to have your bags packed, because they can call you at any time and say you have to come in,” she said. “When you get to the hospital, the organ can still be rejected, or they may decide it’s not a good match, and you have to start over. It’s tough emotionally.”

That’s why having a support system is so important, as well as creating a list of reliable friends and family members who can take you to the hospital at any time, Natalie said.

While she waits, Natalie continues monitoring her weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, pulse and body temperature every day. “You have to get into a routine and be organized,” she said.

Before developing kidney disease, Natalie used to run the 10K Marine Corps Marathon each year.

But while on vacation with her husband in February 2022, she found it difficult to even walk a mile without getting out of breath.

For five months, she saw every doctor and had every test, but there were no answers. One morning, she couldn’t see out of one eye. An ophthalmologist diagnosed her with vasculitis, a rare autoimmune disease, and sent her to the emergency room. That’s where they discovered her kidneys were failing.

Natalie was in the hospital for five weeks and in a rehabilitation facility for an additional two weeks.

“I didn’t think I’d get out of it alive, but I did,” she said. “You need to trust in God because He decides what will happen to you. That’s how I approach it. We say our prayers and be thankful for what we’ve been given.”

To become a member of the Masonic Blood+Organ Donor Program, you must donate one unit of blood. If you are unable to donate, another brother or family member, Mason or not, may donate on your behalf.

“Once you’re in the program, you’re in it for life,” Bill said. “You don’t have to do anything else. Your spouse and any children living in the household up to 18 years old are covered.”