Roger Gagnon is celebrating Christmas with his family today, much healthier than he was one year ago when his life depended on dialysis and the prospect of finding a new kidney.
Gagnon got that kidney as an early present this year, and from an unlikely source: his boss.
Mark Velozo, owner of Slade Formal Wear on Rhode Island Avenue, has employed Gagnon for more than 14 years and said the decision to donate one of his kidneys to him was an easy one.
“We’re friends,” Velozo said. “We’ve worked together for a long time. It’s not your typical boss-employee relationship.”
Gagnon, who is the manager for Slade Formal Wear in both Fall River and Dartmouth, is doing well. He is back at work, four weeks ahead of schedule, after having had the kidney transplant on Oct. 30.
He was diagnosed 11 years ago with polycystic kidney disease, a genetic condition in which cysts grow on the kidneys and enlarge over time, sometimes to the point of kidney failure. Gagnon’s father died at age 52 with kidney disease, and Gagnon’s older brother has the disease, though not as severe. Both of his sons will have to be screened when they’re older.
“I was in kidney failure,” said Gagnon, 47. “I’ve been on the transplant list since May of 2006.”
When the kidney is diseased, it can’t perform its job of filtering the body’s 200 quarts of fluid each day, and excreting about two quarts in the form of urine.
Both of Gagnon’s kidneys were diseased.
Over the past two years, Gagnon got progressively sicker. He had low energy, a swelled stomach and his skin color was off. His blood pressure had also skyrocketed.
Velozo said he watched Gagnon get worse and worse. Then, Gagnon started dialysis. For six months, an 18-inch tube stuck out of his stomach. Each night he connected the tube to a dialysis machine and for eight hours, fluids cleaned out his kidneys. During the day, he taped the tube to his side and hid it under his clothing.
“He worked every day when he was sick ... 50 to 60 hours a week during prom season,” Velozo said. “I’m lucky to have an employee and friend care that much.”
Gagnon said: “You can get used to a lot if you have to.”
When Gagnon’s wife, Tara, and other family members were not a match for a kidney donation, Velozo decided to get tested. There had been no other outside matches, either. And, some patients can wait up to five years for a transplant.
Velozo said he spoke to his wife Alice about donating his kidney and they decided that if he was a match, he’d go ahead with the surgery.
In January of 2007, Velozo went to Mass General Hospital in Boston and found that his blood type matched Gagnon’s. They were both O-positives, a good first step. But, lots more blood testing and screening followed.
“He didn’t want me to do it,” Velozo said. “I thought, if I can help, I want to help.”
When Velozo was determined to be a match, he learned that there are risks to the surgery. At 41, this would be his first surgery.
If anything went wrong, he could end up with a much larger incision than planned. Recovery time could also vary widely. And, with both he and Gagnon, his “right hand man” out on sick leave, things could get difficult at the store.
“They gave us the worst-case scenario,” Velozo said.
Lucky for him, surgery went well. It took about five hours. Surgeons made three small holes in his side and an 8-inch incision below the belly button -- a little larger than they thought because his kidneys were so big.
They removed Velozo’s left kidney and implanted it in Gagnon’s right side, which is typical of this surgery.
Surgeons made an 18-inch C-shaped incision in Gagnon’s right side and also removed his right kidney when they found it to be extremely enlarged and attached to several organs. In usual circumstances, it would have been left behind. Because of the complication, surgery took longer than expected, about eight hours.
Gagnon’s other kidney will eventually turn off the blood flow and shut itself down, he said. But, that’s OK with one healthy kidney. And, doctors say the cysts should not grow back because the new kidney doesn’t contain the genetic disease.
Velozo was back to work in less than two weeks. His remaining kidney is actually expected to get stronger. His only precaution is to keep hydrated while his body gets back in balance. He also has to be careful not to hurt his one kidney. He’s been advised not to go bungee jumping or engage in other dangerous activities.
Now, nearly two months later, both donor and donee are doing fine.
“It’s a relief,” Gagnon said. “I’m not quite 100 percent normal. But it’s right around the corner.”
“It feels good,” Velozo said. “It’s like Roger is back. It’s the Roger I remember. I’m glad I was able to help.”
The two friends, who have often attended a Patriot’s football game in the past, are planning to get back to the stadium as soon as they can.
Gagnon said he’s also planning to take his wife and two boys, Drew, 10, and Tucker, 6, to Walt Disney World next year.
For more information about kidney disease, log on to the National Kidney Foundation’s Web site at www.kidney.org.

E-mail Deborah Allard at dallard@heraldnews.com.