The Bond between Brothers

The Boston Herald

He used to have his coffee with cream. He drinks it black now - and without the doughnut. He doesn't eat bread, either. Or sweets. And he joined a gym, a place where the owner weighs you in, then watches and critiques your workout.

And he's quitting smoking, down from two packs a day two months ago to one pack a day and falling. ``I'm working on it. Forty-five or 50 days before, I'll really throw the cigarettes down and intensify my workout.’'

Rick Rota, 41, a photographer from Milton, is getting in shape not to be buff at the beach or to be the next ``Bachelor,'' though he could be. But so that come summer when the hospital calls, he'll be as fit and healthy as possible. “The doctors said they want to make sure there are no complications. Right from the start I knew if Jack needed a kidney I was going to give it to him.’'

Jack is Rick's 45-year-old brother, who 11 years ago was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease. “I was going for day surgery for an ingrown toenail,'' he said, when tests turned up a problem.

In the last year and a half his disease has accelerated. “I used to work for the town of Milton, in water and sewer, and the job was very physical.'' Then he worked on his own. He worked with jackhammers. He lifted heavy machinery. He was a strong man. ``Now, I don't have the energy to do anything.’'

His surgery will take place this summer. ``It's something, isn't it?'' he says. ``It's a testament that he (Rick) would alter his life and do what he's doing. There was never any question with him. He said years ago, `Don't worry. I've got a kidney for you.' He's the most caring person. Before our mother died, he pretty much put his life on hold taking care of our parents. Rick is a special guy.’'

Rick isn't worried about the operations, his or his brother's. ``I know things will work out.’'

Jack says, “They asked me when we went into Mass General,  ‘Are you as calm as you appear?' And I said, ‘I’m trusting all you people know what you're doing. Besides, I've got no option.’”

Jack's three other brothers offered him a kidney, too, as did his sister and two nieces and two nephews. But Rick's was the best match. “We've always been super close,'' Jack says.

“I started taking flying lessons this year, too,'' Rick says. “It's something I always wanted to do but I'm not going to solo before the operation. Not that anything would happen, but it's something I won't do until after the surgery.’'

When they were children, they played together. “I liked him right off,'' Jack says. He used to take Rick everywhere because there were no children Rick's age in the neighborhood.

A bond that was formed in childhood connects and strengthens these brothers today.