BUFFALO, N.Y. — Former Erie County Executive Joel Giambra says he was all set to jump into the new year with a new run for the New York State Assembly. The political plan for the energetic cancer survivor has been shelved as he got the disturbing news that he has now developed polycystic kidney disease.
He spoke by phone, while out of town, with 2 On Your Side's Claudine Ewing.
"Right after Christmas my doctors advised me that my kidney function was getting to the point where it was time to sign up for a transplant, that obviously was something I was not expecting," Giambra said.
Giambra, who turns 63 on Wednesday, survived a battle with throat cancer which was diagnosed in 1999 just after his election as Erie County Executive. He required surgery back then at Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.
He says his kidney is currently functioning at 20 percent and he will require either a transplant or dialysis when it would get down to 10 percent. He has been advised that could occur quickly or take a number of years to develop. He can seek a match with a family member or friend as a donor. Giambra says if that does not work he will join 115,000 U.S. residents who are waiting on a transplant registry.
He points out kidney disease runs in his family with his mother requiring dialysis treatment and another relative getting a kidney transplant.
And now Giambra, who has also served as a lobbyist and CEO for Liberty Cab, will take on a new role as an advocate for kidney patients and transplant services. He says 37 million Americans suffer from chronic kidney disease.
Giambra contends a transplant is a much less expensive option than dialysis treatment. He claims the U.S. currently spends $35 billion on Medicaid for dialysis and that it is an invasive process that takes its toll on the patient.
"One of the issues that I’m gonna be working on very aggressively is to allow for more organs to become available by trying to get the federal government to change the law when it comes to organ donations," he said. "Right now you have to opt-in if you want to donate your organs and the legislation we’re gonna be asking for is the opposite it’s gonna be opt-out. Every citizen in the United States would be an organ donor unless they choose not to be.”
Giambra ran for Governor of New York State as an independent candidate in 2018 and was preparing his candidacy for the 149th Assembly seat in Buffalo. Assemblyman Sean Ryan is vacating that post in his run for the 60th State Senate district. That seat will also be open as State Senator Chris Jacobs is running for the 27th District Congressional seat.
Despite his new illness Giambra says he is not closing the door on any new run for office in the future. He told Ewing, "I'm never done. As you may know I have a lot of fight left in me. I still have a lot of issues that I think need to be discussed. And at some point, once this health situation is behind me, I look forward to coming back to the political arena."
Giambra will register with the ECMC Transplant Unit in Buffalo.