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Wait for kidney was "just too long"

Despite years on a transplant list, Ronald
Kunkle was Unable to get
a kidney in time to save his life. He died Monday.
By JAN ET MARSHALL Times Staff Writer

SEMINOLE - Ronald Kunkle, the Seminole man who went on a kidney transplant waiting list eight years ago, died Monday (June 7, 1999) without ever getting a new kidney. He was 59. "It was jt,1st too long a wait," said Dolores Kunkle, his wife of 39 years. Mr. Kunkle went into cardiac arrest Friday and was taken off a respirator Sunday. at his request, his wife said. His daughter, Yvette MacKenzie, had planned to work at an organ donor drive this weekend. "We're going to go ahead and do it in his n1emory," MacKenzie said. Mr. Kunk1e's kidney disease was diagnosed about 12 years ago. Doctors traced it to painkillers he used. for back pain caused by a diving accident when he was. a teenager. Three times, Mr.Ronald Kunkle's hopes were raised. Once, tests showed that his son, Jerry Kunkle,could donate a kidney. But after Mr. Kunkle had a blood transfusion, small proteins on the surface of his cells changed, making his son an incompatible donor.

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