Eddie Needs a Kidney

09/02/2025

Two years ago today I woke up like any other day. I would later find out it was not like any other day. It was a day that would change my life!

On September 1, 2023 I GOT THE CALL for a kidney! 😃 We rushed around to gather what we needed for an extended stay, and then headed to University of Toledo Medical Center. It took a few hours of testing to ensure the new kidney would be "accepted into the family" before surgery.

Meanwhile, they got me all prepared for surgery with the gown, IVs, meds, and all. I was not permitted to eat or drink anything during this wait time. Around 10:30PM, the surgeon arrived in the room. YES! This is it!! So we thought.

There was a problem. That kidney was not harvested properly - the main artery was too short. Since it was an adolescent kidney, the artery walls were not mature enough for a workaround. Ah, hopes dashed for a second time this year. 😔 But they told us to not go far as there are other kidneys out there and my name keeps popping up. (This was incredible news to me, as I have waited on another list for FOUR years without even a single hint of a kidney. UTMC found a kidney for me only 5 days of being on their list!)

We found a hotel for the night and settled in. Too much excitement to get much sleep, so we played cards for a while! My phone is usually on sleep mode, but I turned off that feature for the night just in case.

My phone rang at 3:30am September 2. The caller said they have a kidney for me and asked if we could be at UTMC around 12-1pm. We got there at 11:30!! Our friends Randy and April arrived for support and to keep Jaime company.

More tests, more prep, and they rolled me away around 4pm. Surgery took 3 hours. It was finished at 7pm, but there was a problem. They could not wake me from anesthesia. I was out cold!

I finally woke around 9pm. The first memory I have as they rolled me down the hallway is seeing Randy and me giving him the peace sign. ✌️

And now the recovery starts. I was in the hospital for 4 days before they released me. Many more hospital visits and overnight stays were in our immediate future, as you may imagine.

Here I am today with a new kidney that is doing well!

I am grateful to all of you for your love and support over my journey! Special thanks to Jaime for always being there through the whole process from dialysis to recovery.

I am especially grateful to the donor family! They donated organs of their loved one who passed so I may live. This will always have a special place in my heart, and I will honor that gift by living a healthy life.

MUCH LOVE!!

07/12/2025

It's coming up on 2 years since my kidney transplant! WOW!! It is amazing all the changes since then. My energy has improved. I am able to focus on business development much better. I still have some short term memory loss, but I am hoping that improves. I am gaining strength that I lost those 4 years on dialysis. My mental health, positive attitude, outlook on life, respect for life are the best they have been in a long time, and I feel 20 years younger!!

Of course, the new kidney is greatly helping, but I have to help my kidney, too. I feel a moral obligation to the donor to take charge of my health and respect their life-saving gift to me. So, I must take care of my kidney and overall health, and I am doing that with better food choices (Food is the absolute very most important factor in either good or bad health) I have deliberately changed my way of eating to eliminate all highly processed food-like products, food fried, vegetable and seed oils, and food made with bad preservatives and chemical additives. It is often difficult to see others enjoying foods I would also enjoy. But I know that my body cannot handle that, so I have to abstain. (confession: i do have an off-plan snack or ingredient now and then, but overall i am on point)

So now, I eat a lot of beef (like the 24oz of steak I had for dinner), healthy fats like butter, avocados, and nuts, grilled or baked chicken (preferably with the skin), and wild-caught seafood. I loosely follow a carnivore way of eating. I say "loosely" because I like some green veggies every now and then, as well as some nuts, so it is not at all strict carnivore, but it is real food. Basically, if it comes from "God's Green Earth", I can eat it.

So, how is this working for me? Well, I had labs done Thursday. My metabolic health is great!! BP was 130/86. Heart rate was 76. Red and white blood cells are normal. Protein, potassium, sodium, triglycerides, glucose, A1C, and all but a few markers are NORMAL!! (My body is still healing) Oh, and how is my cholesterol with all that beef and butter? NORMAL!! (contrary to what "they" taught us it would be...) Also, I am down to only 2 post-transplant drugs!

I am very grateful that my nephrologist is completely supportive of my "Food before Pharma" approach to health! In fact, when we were talking about lowering my calcium (one of the few abnormal markers), she was already looking up low calcium and high calcium foods so I can make good choices. Total respect, Doc!!

So, here we are, 22 months in and my life has completely transformed! We all go through life changes, and I think I am on 'Eddie 4.0" or something now. 😁

Thank you for tolerating Eddie 3.5, 3.0, and older versions if we've been around a long time. And I hope you tolerate Eddie 4.0 with new quirks and all! 🤪

My wish for you:
Live the Life you Love and Love the Life you Live!!

05/03/2025

Hey, guess what! Today marks 20 MONTHS since I had a kidney transplant! Yep, 20 months!!

A lot has happened since 9/2/23. According to my last blood work, little dude is working at 89%! My metabolic panel is great! Blood pressure is perfect. Cholesterol is normal, if not a little low. My blood work has been improving each month. Nearly everything in my labs is normal. Other problems I had (low testosterone, fatigue, achy muscles and joints, body temperature regulation) have resolved themselves. I am on only 2 post-transplant meds.

My energy has been increasing. My ADDHD has been on fire lately, so I am harnessing the energy and creativity for business improvements. My strength is slowly building up (I lost a lot of strength on dialysis). I deliberately have lost 15 pounds, and am maintaining this weight (I still have 20 more to go). I took over my business again and made much needed improvements to our services. Life has been pretty amazing!

About 2 months ago I suddenly felt a conviction to take care of my body, which in turn takes care of my new kidney. I truly feel a moral obligation to the donor and their family to take care of myself as a show of appreciation and respect for this amazing gift they gave me! (happy tears) And I feel the same obligation to you who have supported and encouraged me all along!! 🥹 I will not take this for granted! I want my life to positively impact others, to "make this count" for something!

This past January I seriously and strictly began improving the quality of food I consume to the point that I call myself "a self-appointed food snob". 😆 I have eliminated all sugar, breads, highly processed food-like products, and most carbs. I choose to eat food from "God's green earth" - grass-fed beef and butter, pasture raised chicken and eggs, wild caught seafood, and so on. Basically, real food healthily grown in a farm, garden, ranch or sea - not food substances made in a factory. No soda (diet or regular) or sugary drinks. And I read the ingredients on labels! I have been amazed at what I put back on the shelves because of the unnatural substances in it. Yeah, every now and then I have an "off-plan" meal or two, and I feel it the next day as a reminder of how toxic that "food" is to my body.

I attribute my energy, weight loss, and lab results to my way of eating. My "diet" is not any structured plan, but simply foods I choose to eat and foods I deliberately avoid.

Friends, thank you so much for all the love! I am surprised, humbled, and honored by all who ask how I am doing when seeing you out and about. Y'all warm my heart! I am forever grateful for your love, support, prayers, positive vibes, and good mojo! I appreciate you.

Much Love

- Eddie

09/04/2024

Friends, I saw this page. Conner is a young man who needs a kidney. Please consider following his page. Perhaps you may know someone who could be a donor to him.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562470972381

I've had kidney issues since childhood. In March 2025, my lone kidney failed and I started dialysis. I am seeking a living kidney donor to come off dialysis and live a long and healthy life. Please FOLLOW my page and SHARE my story.

09/03/2024

Hey!! One year ago today my journey took a positive turn - I received a kidney transplant!! The next 3 days were terrible, but I kept a positive attitude that things will be better shortly. I then had a couple of difficult months of recovery, but Jaime Jenkins was there the whole time to assist as needed. I am grateful for her and others’ support, as well as the love, positive vibes, prayers, and good mojo from you!

Today I feel as good as ever!!! That little dude has been doing a great job. Nearly all my lab numbers are normal!

I have just one favor to ask. Please be an organ donor. The gift you will give so one is indescribably amazing!! I am completely grateful to the family who donated so that I may have this new life to live! I have been a donor since my late teenage years, and I hope one day my donation will be able to bring new life to a recipient. Now it has become kind of a “pay to forward” thing for me.

A always, Thank You for being there for me!! Much Love! 💕

05/23/2024

Hey, I have an update for you!! I went to the transplant center for a checkup. The nephrologist said my numbers are good. She’s happy with the performance of my new little buddy!! I talked to her about my supplements and new healthier way of eating and she said it seems like I have a handle on things. I appreciated that, since I’ve been (mostly) following a much better eating plan. It’s good to have medical reinforcement that I’m on the right track.

She removed one med that reduces potassium because my potassium has been normal and also because that med causes high blood pressure. (I’ve been off my BP meds for 2-3 months now) One immunosuppressant was increased because that value was low. (I’ll still eat healthy, which should also help my immune system be healthy. And if it is strong, as it should be, well, that’s ok by me.

I’ll be doing labs monthly until my next visit in 3 months. You may not hear much from me here, but feel to reach out to me on my personal page if you want to chat. I might even accept a friend request if I like ya!! 😂

Much Love!!

05/14/2024

My next checkup is on 5/23. I did a blood test today to see how things are going, and I got some of the results back already. The results were a bit surprising.

Most all numbers are NORMAL!! But most importantly to me is the kidney function (GFR) - it was 71%!! My new kidney is working at 71%!! It hasn’t been that high since the 1990s!!!!

This is awesome news, and I was surprised it was so high!!!

05/10/2024

I have not updated in a while. You could say "no news is good news", and that would apply. My last visit in March was good. Doc said the kidney was excellent. Since then I have been doing a lot of learning about good health that comes from good eating. As a result I have made some great changes to my eating plan (I dislike the connotation of the word "diet")

I have cut out sugary sweets and goodies like that. However, I did "treat" myself over the weekend to about 8 MnM's and 2 of those chocolate pecan turtles; I felt an overall "ick" feeling later that evening. That "treat" was an "enjoy me now, pay for it later" moment.

I am eating mostly natural foods and much less ultra-processed "food" (food-like manufactured products). I will definitely state that I have an overall good feeling. I am not vegetarian, nor am I carnivore. I am a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll when it comes to those ways of eating. Most of the beef, eggs, and poultry I buy are grass-fed and pasture raised. I buy mostly organic produce. I am not 100% where I want to be, but I know my body is MUCH better because of better quality (and REAL) food. My new little buddy has to be happy in his new home; I don't want my immune system to get confused again and start attacking like it did to my original equipment. (I learned that confusion is a sign of a WEAK immune system, not an overactive one)

I am still working part-time, but I have more energy and I am more engaged that I was even 3 months ago. I am gradually working my strength and stamina to work full time (hopefully) by the Fall.

I have been playing drums more than I had in the past. In fact, back in February this year I played 20 or so songs in a band. Such a great time!! Music has been a big part of my life since I got my first guitar at age 10. I love playing, supporting local bands, and listening to music. I am still working on that dream of playing in a band in a Tiki hut on a beach somewhere warm - never surrender!

When talking about my journey and how I made it through the dark days of dialysis, I always say it is my friends and supporters who have helped me stay alive as much as the dialysis!! I cannot thank you all enough for the love and support. YOU have kept me alive in spirit and on this planet.

If you know of ANYONE in a similar situation with kidney failure who would want someone to talk to, I am way more than happy to be a friend to them. Feel free to say "I know a guy" and send them my way. PLEASE.

MUCH LOVE

01/29/2024

Here’s the most recent update for January ‘24. I had a follow up in Toledo last Monday. All the labs were looking good and most of them were in the normal range. Of particular interest are potassium, phosphorus, hemoglobin, red cell count, white cell count, and creatinine - all in a normal or near normal range. Some odd things from the blood test were outside of normal, but those were never discussed in any of the visits, so I assume they are not that important.

I have no special instructions or med changes from the nephrologist, so I’ll just keep doing what I’ve been doing. Here’s some really good news: I must be doing very well at this stage because my next appointment is in THREE MONTHS! 😃

Again and as always, I appreciate your love, support, prayers, good vibes, and positive mojo!! May that love and support come back to you should you have a time in need!! ❤️

Much love!! 💕

12/09/2023

Just another quick update. I had a follow up appointment in Toledo last week. First all, my follow ups are now monthly with semi-weekly labs. That’s a good sign! More good news is that my numbers are looking better. Little dude is still working hard cleaning things up and maintaining a good balance among all my minerals and electrolytes, as a good kidney should do. One of my meds was stopped since I no longer need it. My immune system is still weak, so I need to be careful around people and avoid closed in crowds. My immune system won’t ever be 100%, but it is expected to eventually be much better than it is now.

All said, things are looking good, and I’ve been told that my color is better and I’m looking healthier! I appreciate all the love, support, prayers, well-wishes, and good mojo sent my way. MUCH LOVE

11/13/2023

We just got back from Toledo for another follow up appointment. Fortunately, it's good news! My numbers are looking better. Hemoglobin is close to normal. Phosphorous and potassium, which have both been a problem for me on dialysis, are normal. Creatinine is as good as it has been since 2005. My follow up appointments have been reduced from every week down to every 2-3 weeks.

I am healing well and feeling well!!

MUCH LOVE

09/21/2023

I waited 4 years on the list at Indiana University. I had to undergo a lot of medical testing annually to remain on the list. Meanwhile, I was doing dialysis at home every night. Then I was encouraged to get on other lists, so I went to Loyola University in the Chicago area. I was on their list for the last 11 months. They had a kidney for me back in May, but it was damaged and unusable. They hadn’t called back since, but I needed to submit a monthly blood sample to stay active on their list. We then went to the Henry Ford Clinic in Detroit to get on their list. A nurse there told us that many people are getting transplanted quickly at the University of Toledo, so I contacted them. We went to orientation in July 2023. I had the health evaluation (most thorough of all, by the way) in August 2023, and a kidney in September 2023 (5 days after being listed).

All the other lists have a 3-5 YEAR wait. The University of Toledo Medical Center has only a 3-4 MONTH wait. I wish I had known about UTMC sooner! And I’m exceptionally glad to have gone there. They did the most thorough exam and tested things the other universities have not. The after care has been exceptional, as well.

I’m super glad to have gone to UTMC and, based on my personal experience, I highly recommend University of Toledo for anyone wanting a kidney transplant.