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‘We take it day by day’ West Hempstead resident needs kidney transplant affected her father and having been prevalent in both her and Eric’s family. “We’ve lived our When Eric Peluso, a lifelong life with it,” Michele said. “To West Hempstead resident who see Eric go through this, to see has lived with kidney disease for him suffer… I never thought it nearly two decades, began dialy- would happen to him. It’s heartsis treatment Dec. 8, he and his breaking,” she added. wife, Michele, took Peluso’s family the same approach has a long history of t h at h a s g u i d e d kidney problems, them through Eric’s beginning with his 20-year journey: “We mother, Rose, who take it day by day.” suffered from kidDespite being ney failure shortly placed on the kidney after Eric was born. donor waiting list at She was placed on NYU Langone Hosdialysis for about a pital in Mineola last year and a half and June, Eric was, up received a kidney until that point, able ERIC PELUSO transplant in 1984. to focus largely on Eric’s brother also diet and exercise to suffered from kidmitigate his kidney disease. ney failure in the early 2000s, Since then, Eric’s kidneys and his mother’s kidney failed have failed, and his health has again around the same time. declined. He now receives dialyEric’s struggle with kidney sis treatment three times a week disease began when he was testfor three and a half hours. ed to see if he was a match for “I still have faith that some- his father’s kidney. His diagnosis thing good will come out of this came back showing an increased someday,” said Eric, 39, a mail amount of protein in his blood, carrier. “It’s hard… I’m disap- leading doctors to place Eric on pointed, but I have to stay posi- medication to reduce his protein tive and keep my head up.” levels. Michele explained that kidAlthough Eric’s brother, ney disease has been a mainstay of Eric’s life and her life, having CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
By ROBERT TRAVERSO rtraverso@liherald.com
I
Courtesy Kevin Smith
TWELVE-YEAR-OLD GOSPEL SINGER Janessa Smith, of West Hempstead, was nominated for the 2022 Rhythm of Gospel Music Awards in two categories.
12-year-old gospel singer to release new single By ANNEMARIE DURKIN adurkin@liherald.com
A West Hempstead middle schooler is taking the gospel world by stor m. Janessa Smith, 12, who was nominated for over a dozen gospel music awards in just the last three years, is gearing up to release her newest single, “Finish this Race,” set to be available on music streaming platforms Jan. 21. Janessa Smith has been writing and singing songs
since she was 4 years old. Born in the Bronx to Jamaican parents Kevin and Ann Marie Smith, Janessa said she wrote this song to remind listeners that while their journey may be long and hard, God is there to help you make it through. “Her music is very influential, and when you listen to it, it grabs you a certain way,” Kevin said. “Her generation has grown up with her, so in the end, she’ll have a fan base that will be following her for
quite a bit of time.” In addition to releasing her latest single this month, Janessa was recently the recipient of a handful of nominations for awards within the gospel community. Janessa’s 2020 single, “He’s able,” earned her six nominations from the Rhythm of Gospel Awards, set to take place in Jacksonville, Fla., in June, including nominations for Inspirational Song of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
still have faith that something good will come out of this someday.