about dan

Dear Friends,

Some of you may or may not know me or know about me and that I have had Type 1 Diabetes for over 45 years now. Although I’ve tried to do a good job in controlling my diabetes including blood sugars, the disease has affected my Kidney function over the last 8 to 10 years. Over the past 2 to 3 years the kidney disease has progressively gotten worse. October 2019 I was hospitalized with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) with my kidneys functioning at around 8%. To keep my kidneys functioning and maintaining my life I am currently receiving dialysis treatment four times a week at home. A lot of dialysis patients typically must go to dialysis treatment centers three times a week for roughly half a day or longer. Neither process is a lot of fun but they both beat the alternative; I’ve been told I couldn’t last three weeks without treatment. Today there are only two treatment options for Kidney failure; the aforementioned dialysis treatment or a Kidney Transplant. 

Over the past year, Paula and I have been talking with the Transplant Teams at both UW Health Madison and Aurora St Luke's Hospital. We got listed on the National Transplant database (UNOS) and have heard that my blood type (B+) has the longest waiting period for a deceased donor kidney; typically 4 to 5 years. We also received confirmation from both Teams that they will now also accept pre-screening calls for a live donor transplant on my behalf. Not only would a live donor kidney cut years off of my waiting time, but receiving a live donor Kidney transplant will provide me with a healthier and longer life (some 10 - 15 years), allowing me to do the things I know God has in store for me. 

Asking a family member or a friend to consider donating their kidney to someone is very difficult. But in sharing this with you, and you in turn sharing with others, allows a means to get my story out and provide a chance for receiving that live kidney transplant. 

Understandably, some people are afraid of the surgery they would go through and what living with one kidney will mean. Here’s some basic information about kidney donation:

• You only need one kidney to live a healthy, long life,

• Most donor surgery is done laparoscopically, meaning through tiny incisions.

• The recuperation period is usually fairly quick, generally less than two weeks.

• The cost of your evaluation and surgery will be covered by the recipients (my) medical insurance. The transplant centers can provide extensive information on this (and/or see the following page).

• You will have a separate team of healthcare professionals to evaluate you as a living donor. Their job is to help you understand the risks and benefits and look out for your best interest, as well as provide any care you may need after donation.

You can also learn more about living donation on the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) website: www.kidney.org/livingdonation or by contacting the NKF’s free, confidential helpline at 855.NKF.CARES (855.653.2273) or www.nkfcares2kidney.org. If you want to talk to someone who’s already donated a kidney, NKF can also help making that happen.

We could find during the evaluation process that you and I are not a perfect match. That’s okay. A kidney paired donation can occur when the hospital uses a national network of computers to find a transplant recipient that matches your specific organ, while they may have friends or family that could be a match for me. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story. If donating a kidney is something you would possibly consider, I would be happy to tell you more about my story and explore the process of determining if you are a match. You can also contact the either of the transplant centers  at St. Luke's (414) 646.0584 or UW Health at  (608) 263-1384.

I know living donation may not be right for everyone – but you can still help. Consider being an organ donor after your demise by signing your drivers license. Also, please help me by sharing my story with everyone you know. I want to bring awareness to kidney disease and living donation. I am hopeful my efforts will help me receive a kidney in the near future and encourage others to consider helping the many people on the waiting list. 

Thank you again for your time in reading my story. - Dan