Supporting Ian and Arynn

I met Ian when he was a student in my Spanish I class. If you know Ian, you can imagine what type of Spanish student he was. ‍♀️ Although not anywhere near the best student, I loved having him in class. He is such a fun, goofy guy... and much to Arynn’s dismay, everyone loves Ian! Because he almost didn’t make it through Spanish I, I got to know him even better when he had to stay after school often for extra help. I think he only stayed because I gave him candy when he did. If it wasn’t for that candy, he probably would have had to take the class again!

I got to teach Ian again when he took his second year of Spanish. It was an alternative to Spanish II, for those that struggled in Spanish I. Arynn was also in that class. It was a small class of mostly boys and she was not a fan of them. They were a lot to deal with, for sure!

I was surprised when Ian and Arynn stopped by my classroom their senior year and I found out they were dating. They started stopping by often to talk and I learned that neither of them had been dealt an easy life. Both of them missed a lot of school because of this and were not going to be able to graduate. Arynn decided to attend night school and got her diploma there. I was ecstatic when she invited me to her graduation so I could witness this momentous occasion! I was so proud of her! Ian stayed in high school, but had to make up time at summer school before he could graduate. While in summer school, he also had to deal with his failing kidney and had surgery to prepare for when he has to start dialysis. During that time, they stayed at our house. I also got to attend his small graduation ceremony- another proud day for me!

On top of these big life events, they decided to get married!!! Although they were very young, I was fully supportive, and enjoyed helping plan the wedding. They really are perfect for each other. It was simple, yet beautiful. Arynn’s sister officiated the wedding and all of their family and close friends were there.

As a young couple, you can imagine that finances are super tight for them. Ian’s health issues caused him to have to quit his job, so Arynn is the only one working right now. With Ian starting dialysis soon, that will keep him out of a job and it may affect Arynn’s hours if she has to take him to and from dialysis several times a week. When he does get a transplant, Arynn will need to take time off to care for him.

If you didn’t know their story and the struggles they face, you would have no idea that they have it so tough. They have nieces and nephews that they help take care of and whom they love deeply. It’s not often that you will see them without one of them being with them.

How can you help? Obviously, you can call to get the process started to see if you might be able to donate your kidney to Ian and give him the gift of life. You can also share this group on your social media to spread the word. You never know who might be willing to donate a kidney to a complete stranger! You can also help alleviate the financial burden they are facing and will continue to face for quite some time (through no fault of their own). I have set up a Go Fund Me account for them. You can be assured that every donation, no matter how small) will help and be greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and share.