Tom’s Story

Site created on April 25, 2018

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.


Twenty+ short years ago, in 1993, Tom was diagnosed with FSGS-Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis-a kidney disease. For those of you who know Tom well, you know he is one of the hardest working men you have ever met and that he is very private about personal life. He didn’t slow down one iota and has continued to go full steam ahead often saying, “Sleep is overrated”. 

In the spring of 2016 he was told his kidney function had reached the level where the “T” word, (transplant), was on the horizon. In November of that year we spent two days in Rochester at Mayo going through the Transplant Screening/Testing process. Our prayer since the beginning was that Tom would get a live donor, (we found out that I am not a match), and never have to go on dialysis prior to a transplant. We asked one of the doctors we saw, “how to you go about finding a donor?” to which he replied, “You talk about it to EVERYONE. Your family, friends, coworkers, church family, social media, etc.” (Of course he talked about it as if you were simply asking for a cup of sugar from someone!) 

Our kids were not eligible to donate because unfortunately Zach has been diagnosed with FSGS and Alaina has all the symptoms of it. Gabe hasn't shown any signs of FSGS. Pray that he remains kidney disease free! In January of 2017 we got a call from our nephew-in-law telling us that he had been screened and was a perfect match to be Tom's donor.  We were beyond excited, and relieved.  At that point, Tom's kidney function was being tested monthly as we waited for it to fall to a certain level where we would proceed with the transplant.


March 2018: lab results indicated the kidney function level dropped to the point that scheduling the transplant was needed.  Instead of that being a simple thing, Mayo found an antibody issue in Tom's blood that caused them to question if we should go ahead with the donor.  They put Tom back on the national shared kidney donor list.  We were feeling like the rug had been pulled out from under us.  We had everyone we knew, and everyone that they knew praying! :) Mayo had Tom & the donor send in new blood work, mixed those samples, and had a specialist look at the results.  This doctor concluded that it was safe to go ahead, and the transplant was scheduled for Tuesday, May 8th.  


So many prayers have been answered already.  Tom has not had to go on dialysis.  In fact, he hasn't stopped running every single day and going about daily life in the crazy" bull in a china shop" way that he always has done.  We know Jesus will be right there with us in Rochester, in the operating room, and in every step of recovery.  Your continued prayers are welcome.  And feel free to share with others.    


Newest Update

Journal entry by V Anderson

We arrived back home late yesterday afternoon.  Tom is free to stay home and begin his lab work at the Menomonie clinic this week.  The lab numbers had again improved slightly and the doctor was pleased with that.  We hope the numbers continue to improve going forward.

It feels good to be back home and getting to sleep in our own bed.  We are having a cool, rainy day today and that just might be to our advantage to keep Tom from doing too much.  😉 Getting to see our sweet granddaughter, Zara, is the best part of all.  She seems a little confused by the beard Tom has grown while we were gone but she's warming up to it.  

Monday will mean "back to work" for me, Vicki, and a real challenge for Tom to keep from doing too much.  We'll figure out a new normal as the days pass.  I'll try to update after the first labs at home come in early next week.

Enjoy your weekend everyone.  
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