Holiday Wish Week Update: New Bedford’s Amaral Family

As we put the finishing touches on family selections for our 10th United Way of Greater New Bedford Holiday Wish Week, we wanted to share an update with you about one of our families from 2023, the Amaral family.

We introduced you to Kyle Amaral, a New Bedford husband and father of two. Kyle was in excellent health, described as 'a 208-pound gym rat,' when routine blood work during his yearly physical revealed he had kidney failure. His doctor likened his condition to a train going off the tracks: 'It's not if, but when it goes off the track. We're just trying to delay it,' said Amaral.

Lisa Barriteau, a friend of the Amaral family who initially alerted us to Kyle's condition, gave us an update. Simply put, Kyle is in urgent need of a kidney. 'Since last year, Kyle has continued dialysis, but his kidney function has recently dropped to just 5%. In-center dialysis is no longer effective, so his medical team is preparing him for at-home dialysis in hopes that it will put less stress on his body. Kyle desperately needs a kidney donor.'

If you would consider donating a kidney to Kyle Amaral, you can learn more on the Facebook page his family has set up for this effort, Kidney for Kyle Amaral (blood type O+). You can also begin the screening process by visiting www.livingdonortufts.org.

We wish the Amaral family all the best in their search for a matching kidney donor.