Amidst the challenges of life, true friendship shines as a beacon of hope and support. Nicholas’s story is a testament to the extraordinary bond he shares with his best friend, Pat Wise.Amidst the challenges of life, true friendship shines as a beacon of hope and support. Nicholas’s story is a testament to the extraordinary bond he shares with his best friend, Pat Wise. At a tender age of 16, Nicholas’s health took a turn when he was diagnosed with kidney problems stemming from Crohn’s disease. As his kidneys gradually declined, the realization dawned that he would ultimately require a transplant. Amidst this somber news, his friends rallied around him, offering unwavering support. Pat Wise, Nicholas’s long-time companion from their childhood in Zionsville, stepped forward without hesitation. Driven by unwavering loyalty, he volunteered to be a kidney donor. The bond they had forged over the years made the decision to potentially give Nicholas the gift of life an easy one. With meticulous preparation and the guidance of skilled medical professionals, Pat traveled to Chicago for the transplant procedure. Surgeons skillfully removed one of his kidneys, which was then transplanted into Nicholas’s body. The surgery was a success, and Nicholas’s kidney function began to improve. Nicholas’s story is a heartwarming reminder that even in the face of adversity, true friends will always be there to lend a helping hand. Pat Wise’s selfless act stands as a symbol of the profound power of human connection and the extraordinary lengths individuals will go to for those they care about.
Nicholas’ best friend since primary school donates him a kidney
At age 16, Nicholas began experiencing kidney problems after being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease years earlier. Routine laboratory tests showed that his kidney function had declined and further tests revealed that there was inflammation in his kidneys that was causing damage, but the cause was never found.
He was able to avoid dialysis and managed it with medications. But after moving to Chicago in early 2022 and receiving care at Northwestern Medicine, his kidney function deteriorated and it became clear he would eventually need a kidney transplant.
Nicholas credits his Northwestern Medicine nephrologist, Cybele Ghossein, MD, with guiding his pre-transplant preparation and extending the life of his natural kidneys as long as possible.
But there were some challenges in finding a donor for Nicholas. His mother originally planned to be his donor, but was then unable to donate due to a breast cancer diagnosis. Nicholas then turned to the group of friends he has known since grade school while growing up in the Indianapolis suburb of Zionsville, Indiana. His best friend, 29-year-old Pat Wise, who lives in Alexandria, Virginia and works for a public health organization, remembers getting that text.
“I was in my kitchen cooking dinner and John sent a message that said, ‘My doctor says it’s time for me to start looking for kidney donors.’ I stared at my phone and filled out the form that night without hesitation,” Wise said. “Jan is a good friend. He needed a kidney, and I had an extra one. I had to at least explore the possibilities of being his donor.”
Wise was declared a match and traveled to Chicago, where surgeons removed one of his kidneys and transplanted it into Nicholas.
