Dayton Daily News reported that Matt Bombeck, youngest son of beloved humor columnist Erma Bombeck, recently underwent a kidney transplant. Erma Bombeck inspired people worldwide with her columns and books about life’s trials and tribulations.
The polycystic kidney disease that made the transplant necessary is an inherited condition. This same disease is the one that claimed the life of Erma after undergoing a kidney transplant that was unsuccessful in 1996. Andy Bombeck, the older brother of Matt, previously underwent a successful transplant..
Matt Bombeck, who lives in Los Angeles, received the kidney transplant at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. The donor is a Manhattan art teacher, the husband of a friend of his Matt’s wife, Jackie.
Kidney disease is said to be the most common heredity disease in the US. Each year, more than 87,000 Americans die from causes related to kidney failure according to the National Kidney Foundation. On average, one person dies every two hours in the U.S. while waiting for a kidney transplant. Surgery is now usually laparoscope and has a 95 percent success rate with a living donor.
NSNC partnered with the Erma Bombeck Writer’s Workshop in the past. Many NSNC members attend the popular writer’s workshop held every two years in memory of Erma at the University of Dayton. Members have also acted as judges in the writing contest held by Washington-Centerville Public Library of Dayton in association with the workshop.