February 2, 2018

I finally got a chance to escape, sit down and write out Thank You emails for the donations that have been received so far! I am truly blessed to call you my friends.

This morning I started with a blank screen and several emails and have finished sending them, to say the least it has been therapeutic although I am sure a few people at Biggby have wondered why I had tears in my eyes.

To sit here and think back at all of the friendships I have made in my life, kept in touch with and still maintain to this day is amazing to me.

As I wrote in the emails, I do not plan on letting this defeat me, it is just a small bump in the road of life

I Thank You again from the bottom of my heart!

Steve

#aintmylastdance

January 13, 2018

My Invisible Disease

In 2001 I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Kidney Disease at the same time through all the testing and procedures, I also found out I only had 1 Kidney. Through healthier eating and exercise, I have been able to keep that stable up until now. In September of 2017 I was referred to St. Mary’s Transplant Center in Grand Rapids due to my function dropping below 20%.. Chances are that percentage can go back up a bit and I will be put on hold (that is my hope anyways)

After numerous tests including a cardio stress test that I made them shake their heads at, meeting Dr’s that couldn’t understand how I have so much energy. The other day while getting a checkup for Blake, I got the call that I was officially put on the Transplant list (which allows me to receive a deceased donor Kidney or a Living Donor Kidney)

Tears of relief began to fall..

Here comes the hard part, asking for the biggest gift anyone can ever give to someone, is the gift of life in my case a viable treatment option (yeah, it’s not a permanent fix unfortunately but better than being hooked to a machine) oh and I’ll get to watch my son grow up and annoy my awesome wife some more