Trinity students recently watched a documentary called “The Potter’s Field,” which focuses on dignified burials for the homeless. Students will soon be able to watch another documentary that may help many people. Working with the Kidney Foundation, Trinity teacher Mr. Marlon Francis has begun work on a documentary about kidney disease and donations. Francis, who is in his first year at Trinity, teaches anatomy and physiology classes.
“I want to promote awareness for kidney disease,” Francis said. “People need to be aware that they can have kidney problems, their friends can, their family can — and there are things you can do to take care of yourself.”
One thing that inspired Francis is the high number of kidney problems for people of the area. One in nine adults already has kidney disease, according to the National Kidney Foundation’s website.
The National Kidney Foundation held its annual Kidney Walk at Waterfront Park on Sept. 29. Francis and members of his classes participated in the event.
Francis said, “The (Kidney) Foundation will come in and teach the classes about kidney diseases. That way we can teach everyone else with the documentary.”
“I think that it’s a really cool idea,” Trinity senior Thomas Beyerle said. “It’s an important issue, and people need to know how they can keep themselves healthy.”
The documentary will also focus on kidney donations and the process one must go through to receive or give a kidney. Francis already has several people he knows he wants to speak to in the documentary.
“We definitely want to talk to Tim Clark and Mike Saylor for the documentary,” Francis said. Saylor needed a kidney transplant, and Clark was willing to donate his. Both are Trinity alumni from the Class of 1983.
One of the documentary’s goals is to explain what someone needs to be able to give one of their kidneys to someone else. Not only are there physical requirements, but there are emotional ones as well. Who would be willing to give up one of their most vital organs to try to save someone else’s life?
“As a religious learning institution, we want a part of the documentary to explore the roles that faith plays in everyone affected by kidney disease: the donor, the receiver, friends and family, even the surgeon that performs the operation,” Francis said.
One thing the anatomy classes will do is meet with a surgeon who has performed a kidney transplant, and they will become a part of the documentary.
Someone else Francis wants to talk to is a boy named Austin Bryan, who has kidney disease and is in need of a transplant. He is currently on dialysis. His father, another former Trinity student, contacted Francis when he heard he was going to make a documentary.
“We want Austin to help us explain what dialysis does and why it’s necessary,” Francis said. “But more importantly, we want to show our audiences that there are people out there who need help.”
Francis hopes the documentary will help inspire people to donate a kidney to someone who needs one.
“If you can, and if you’re healthy enough, donate a kidney. It’s an extremely noble thing to do,” Francis said.
Clark, Saylor, and Bryan are only the beginning. As production of the documentary kicks off, the anatomy classes will conduct numerous interviews and compile a great amount of research.
“I guess we’re going to have to learn a lot about kidneys,” senior Alex Edens joked. “But seriously, I’m excited to start doing some interviews. It sounds fun, and really cool.”
Francis said this is a great way to put Trinity in the spotlight. “When the documentary is finished, it will be featured on the Kidney Foundation’s website,” he said. “Every time the documentary is featured, Trinity will be featured. Helping make this documentary is a great way to leave behind your legacy, leave your mark on Trinity history.”
