Bo celebrating successful transplant anniversary

Bohdan "Bo" Kiyanchuk is marking the one-year anniversary of his successful kidney transplant today.

After news came last May that the 17-year-old, who hails from the village of Sadki in Ukraine, was critically ill and his remaining kidney would not last much longer, Dr. Ken and Karen Hunziker, who have served as Bo's local proxy parents over the last few years as he's undergone various hospitalizations and treatments, began working to ensure that a transplant could happen.

Since Bo is not an American citizen, and being put on a donor list was not an option, he relied on Oksana, his older sister, for a kidney. The Ukrainian siblings' life-saving surgeries occurred in Sioux Falls one year ago.

While Bo suffered a minor setback with a viral infection that's common with transplant patients, Dr. Hunziker reported the teenager took an anti-viral drug for three months and is "fine now."

"And, his kidney is functioning beautifully," he quickly added with a smile. "Every three to four weeks, he gets kidney function tests, and his kidneys are as good as anybody who has two kidneys."

Hunziker also commented on how Bo has benefited from the compassion of several drug companies that have provided his "very expensive medicines" at no cost.

"So we've had to use very little from the fund established for him through Hope Reformed Church," he said. "Although, when he goes back, he'll have to pay for those. So at some point, that money will certainly be used. But up until now, we've been very lucky having to use very small amounts of the fund that's been established for him."

Because the first year for a transplant recipient marks the highest risk for rejection of his or her new organ, Bo did not accompany Hunziker and his son Brian during a June visit to his Ukrainian village. Instead, the two men delivered gifts from the teenager to all his family members.

"His family is good and they miss him," the Spencer doctor said.

While visiting Sadki, the Hunzikers saw firsthand that Bo's sister was also faring well following her surgery.

"She looks good," Hunziker reported of Oksana. "She still reports having some discomfort where the kidney was removed, but she's back to normal activities."

Bo, meanwhile, who is on his third extension for a six-month visitor visa, faces the risk of not having another visa granted to him.

"We've applied for another one, but one of these times they're probably going to say, 'This person has been here for two years. It looks like he's more than a visitor,' and turn it down," Hunziker cautioned. "So, the other visa we've applied for is a student visa. If he gets a student visa, he will be able to go to school here and come and go in the country as he pleases for two years."

Hopes are to have Bo travel home sometime this spring to visit his family and then return, courtesy an approved visitor or student visa, in August to enroll in school as a student. The teenager is currently being privately tutored in English as a second language by Jane Christ twice a week. He also keeps busy with activities such as participating in youth group activities at Hope Reformed Church, helping with the church's Kids' Connection group once a week, watching television, completing jobs around the home, biking, playing tennis and working out at the Spencer Family YMCA.