Long Beach Chiropractor Needing Kidney 'So Blessed' By Community

LONG BEACH, NY — A Long Beach restaurant is holding a fundraiser for a resident in need.

LB Social and Bright Eye Beer Co. are putting together the charity event for Dr. Joshua Siegel, a chiropractor, who suddenly fell ill in February and needs a kidney transplant.

He was diagnosed with kidney failure and underwent emergency dialysis in the hospital. Siegel continues to receive dialysis treatment three days a week.

It took a few days in intensive care for doctors to determine he had an autoimmune disease called anca vasculitis that attacked his kidney, he said.

Stress was likely part of the issue, as Siegel and his wife in 2021, Holly, lost a baby at 31 weeks.

"I was an essential worker during COVID," Siegel told Patch. "I was one of the first patients to have COVID. They think it was kind of like the perfect storm."

With his kidneys at only 20 percent of function, doctors told Siegel he is definitely a candidate for a transplant.

Although he's on the kidney registry, Siegel, who'll be 47 in December, said the wait list is at least six years for an organ from a dead person in New York.

Through social media, he's influenced dozens of people willing to get tested for the potentially life-saving surgery. One person who is a match is his wife.

"They didn't recommend a husband and wife, with a small child, to go under the knife together," he said.

Another person is blood-type compatible and the hospital is waiting to see if they'll move forward.

A live donor is preferred because it could extend viability by more than 10 years, as opposed to a deceased option.

The Monday, Nov. 7, gathering aims to raise money for the new kidney, the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce wrote on Facebook.

Siegel, who has his chiropractic offices in Long Beach and Bellmore, is overwhelmed by the community's support.

"In one hand, it's hard for me to receive things. I'm always one to help people. That's my mission," he said. "I feel so blessed."

He added: "Talking about living one day at a time, I'm fighting for my life. The community is amazing," Siegel said.

Although Siegel grew up in East Meadow, he loves Long Beach, including boardwalk bike rides with his 6-year-old son. He's been a resident of Long Beach since 2008.

His wife created a GoFundMe that would help finance, in part, living arrangements for two months in Manhattan to get monitored after surgery. To date, the page has gotten more than $53,000 in donations.

While Siegel faces a desperate situation, he wants to turn this into a platform for people to become organ donors.

"You could save so many lives," he said. "Having that mindset of being a donor--that is my passion right now."

It's $50 per person for entry to the Nov. 6 event, which includes two pints and food.

To reach Siegel directly for more information about donor testing, call his office (516-425-0113) at Cafe of Life Chiropractic.

GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner.