Kidney Transplant for Dan

I've set this up for my youngest son. I asked his wife to tell his story as she does a beautiful job of it. Here is Dan's story in his wife, Liz's, words.

"My mother-in-law asked me if I would write Dan's story to share with everyone, it took me awhile to even start. I have a hard time thinking about it, let alone writing about it, which is why it's been several months since I've even posted. To bring it all to mind means there's tears and emotions I try very hard to avoid reliving. It's not the life we planned or imagined or dreamed about. It's a life that, most days, leaves me drained, exhausted and with pain in my innermost being. It's days that I literally feel like I'm going crazy and so many big decisions that I feel like running away, but God has us. He's holding us. He already knows the plan and we just have to be still and listen.

Almost 2 years ago in December, Daniel had multiple seizures that he was barely coming out of. I helped him to the car, we drove our babies to my sister's house and then proceeded to the hospital. He was unconscious for most of the trip but woke up enough to puke multiple times on the way to the hospital. We arrived at the emergency room, but he was barely able to walk and threw up as soon as we came in the door. They took him straight back to the one open bed left and did some blood work. It was so very lonely waiting for results as Dan was unconscious. When they finally came back, there was about 6 people coming in to talk to me. I remember the lady-doctor was very kind and put her hand on my shoulder and asked if there was someone I would like to come and sit with me. Then she told me Daniel was in kidney failure. She didn't know what was wrong, but they were gonna have to keep him for a few days. Everything else they said was just a blur. They ended up doing a biopsy that confirmed he has an autoimmune disease.

There has been many ups and downs since then. So many answered prayers! We've had good days and weeks where his kidney function went up and he felt good! But we've also had some crazy hard days. Days we weren't sure he was going to make it. Days we felt so unbearably weighed down. Days that, in the overwhelming chaos, we took our eyes off Christ trying to depend and trust in ourselves. But we are learning to trust God and His plan for us. It may not be what we imagined or hoped for in this life, but God's strength is made perfect in our weakness. Everything we are not, He is!

His kidney function has remained low for several months now and he is starting to have other issues related to the kidney failure, so... we have been referred to a transplant team at the Mayo Clinic. It's huge and scary and I'd really just like to close my eyes until it's over. I had no idea how incredibly extensive each step that goes into preparing for a transplant is. It's so unimaginably complicated and there are so many aspects that need to be arranged and coordinated that it's unreal. So many expenses that won't be covered. Details that seem impossible. I know our life will be turned upside down again and we can't do it without everyone of you standing with us! But we know that God will make a way where there seems to be no way!"

"Jesus looked at them and said,' With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.' Matthew 19:26"

The disease Dan has is called IgA, also known as Berger's disease. He has been out of work since that hospital trip in December 2019. They will have to move cross country for most of a year for the transplant process and recovery.