Big News!

On April 28, 2017, Al will have surgery to donate a kidney! Our good friend, Ethan Place, has kidney failure and needs a transplant. Al and other friends were tested in August to see if they were matches. We have been praying since then that Ethan will find a match and that Al would be the match.  That was answered!

I am excited to share the news! Here are some frequently asked questions: 

1. How long is the recovery? 2-3 days in the hospital then 4-6 weeks until he will be back to normal life. 

2. Will he have to change his diet? No. The lone kidney grows to compensate. 

3. Who is Ethan and how do you know him? Ethan Place is a true American hero. Ask Google. He moved to Joplin in May 2011 to be the JHS football offensive coordinator. Ethan and Al became friends and I became very good friends with his wife, Jamie. She was my very best workout buddy. 

4. Are you okay with it? Yes. I am 100%. I was not so sure in the beginning.  Al called me one day at work to let me know that he and some of the other coaches gave blood to see of they were matches. I was set back because he didn't ask me and it's not like he could decide not to if he was a match. I thought I might need that kidney, Hawk might need it or what if something happens to my husband? With each step of the matching process, it became more real. We continued to pray and Al has always felt strongly that he was supposed to do this. When we went up to Barnes-Jewish hospital in St. Louis on March 22 I felt very good about the process. We had a whole day of testing and meeting with doctors and people telling Al he didn't have to do this. It was Dr. Goldberg who shared Al's good health news. He is very healthy!  Fun fact, the average donor lives longer than the average person. 

5. How healthy is Alan? He is so healthy, Dr. Goldberg told him he has "pristine urine." One of the tests for kidney function had levels so low that they were not detectable on the test. This was the highlight of the trip. They checked for multiple diseases and the potential for future kidney failure. (No one really asked that. I just wanted to make it a point.) 

6. Since they are both football coaches, how will the doctors decide on a play to make a complete kidney pass from Alan to Ethan? Ethan calls the offense so it will be up to him. 

We are so grateful for the support from everyone. Please pray for Ethan and Jamie, the transplant process and that Ethan will accept the kidney.