August’s Story

Site created on September 30, 2020

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.

Meet August. He is 23 years old and lives in Rochester, MN. If there’s one thing that describes him, it’s a sports fanatic. He plays and cheers for every sport there is. Baseball, softball, basketball, football, soccer, tennis, floor hockey, fishing, everything. He loves it all. You’ll never catch him without a sporting shirt or jersey on unless mom makes him put something else on.


While being your average, sports-crazy, goofy, loving, kind, helpful, big-hearted, yet smart-ass of a dude, he has had some medical setbacks his whole life. From battling Moya Moya with bilateral brain surgeries at 4 years old and the cognitive challenges that continue to his skeletal disorders that impact fine motor function, he has been so strong and positive.

One of his biggest battles has been with his kidney health. August was born with kidney dysplsia which is malformation of the kidneys from birth. Believe it or not, you can live a full and healthy life with just above 25% function of just 1 kidney. August has been about there his entire life. We knew at some point, his kidneys wouldn’t keep up with his growth spurts, but they did until recently. The crazy thing is, is that our dad was always going to be his kidney donor if and when that time came. Unfortunately, our dad passed away in March of 2019 and just one week later at August’s annual checkup, August’s kidneys had officially progressed to end stage renal failure.

For the last year and a half August has been on peritoneal dialysis every night. The process is really something to watch and then the amount of medication he has to take on a daily basis is on another level. We’re sharing all of this, now, because of his recent, unpredictable, exponential decline in his barely-there kidney function. What was originally thought to take him another 6-7 years if need-be to give us time to a donor, has taken us to a year and a half. As his treatment plan continues to evolve, we aren’t sure how long before his body no longer accepts it. with all of that said, the clock is ticking to find a kidney donor. He is on the donor list to receive a deceased kidney, but a live donor would be even better.

We know it’s huge, but we ask that you consider a kidney donation to August. You can follow www.mayoclinic.org/livingdonor and fill out the Donor Evaluation form to begin the process. You can voluntarily stop the process, whenever, no questions asked. If you’re unsure or have questions, my family and I are here to answer every question you may have. If you’re unable, or simply don’t want to, that is okay! Our next ask is that you share the crap out of this to expand our reach to find him a match and to save his life. We all know how powerful social media is, let’s use it for good. From me, my family & especially from August... We thank you

Newest Update

Journal entry by Annette Goodman

Lizzy was able to go home yesterday, Ev & D'Angello are very happy to have her home. August gets to go home today. The nurses and teams at Mayo have been wonderful but it is going to be good to be home.

Since surgery late Wednesday night the hours have been filled with, meds, vitals, education, walks around and around and around the nursing station 😊, and lots of sleep. He was able to get back to solid food yesterday and ate pasta for both lunch and supper so he was a very happy guy!

August's creatinine continues to fall which is showing the kidney is working well.  During dialysis in the last few months August was allowed very limited fluid intake. He was able to have only one 16.9 oz. bottle of water a day.  Now he has to do a 180 degree turn and push fluid, 5 to 6, 20oz glasses per day.  Especially critical these first two weeks.  This is added to the list of his new challenges.  

The pain medication cocktail of general anesthesia, epidural, and local anesthesia he received in surgery that was to last 36-48 hrs. post op has now worn of.  He says pain is at about a "3" and is being a trooper.  He says it hurts to laugh, bright side is he is laughing..... When we get home I guess Bob will have to keep the "dad jokes" to a minimum for a few days 😂 😂…….. He just experienced his first post-op sneeze, yikes...that was definitely more than a "3". 

This week beginning Monday, in the outpatient clinic, will be filled with labs each morning, followed by nurse/Dr. visits to ensure the kidney function is continuing in the right direction, anti-rejection medication levels are where they need to be, and monitoring for infection.

We are so grateful for all the support, prayers and wishes everyone has shared for both August and Lizzy.  There is still a 3 - 6 month road ahead that will be filled with new challenges but knowing it is all the road leading down the new path of "life" for August is so wonderful.  This gift he has received due to the generosity of others is beyond priceless and appreciated beyond words.

Thank you all for the continued prayers and support for August, Lizzy and the other donors and recipients. We know these have absolutely helped contribute to the success so far!

Love & Hugs to all from our family!!
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