Mike was inspired to donate because his wife, Annie, needed a kidney. She was in stage 5 renal failure; the next step was dialysis. He tried to be a direct donor but was not a match. He learned of “paired match,” give a kidney, get a kidney as part of a 6-kidney donation chain. He was able to donate and get his wife the kidney she needed.
He is climbing to honor his wife Annie and bring awareness to kidney disease and the challenges of securing live kidney donors. He is also an advocate for living kidney donation and an example that you can be a living donor and participate in life’s challenging activities.
Mike is a Transportation RVP. He lives with his wife Annie, and dogs Luna and Ruby. They have 2 sons Cole and Connor, daughter Camryn and daughter-in-law Joelle, and the recent addition of their first granddaughter, Peyton. When he is not climbing mountains, he enjoys running, hiking, hunting, and DIY construction projects of all types. Mike donated his kidney on February 19, 2019, at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. By donating, “I was able to not only help my wife but also another wonderful person who was in dire need as well.
Learn more about Mike’s donation story in the Maple Grove Magazine article. More information about living kidney donation and Kidney Donor Athletes can be found at kidneyregistry.org and kidneydonorathlete.org.
We think this is real love. Sucess to all of you! Love, Mom