Hello, family and friends.

On Good Friday, Nate met with his transplant coordinator at St. Joseph's Hospital in Orange, CA. Most of the information shared at this meeting was a review of things heard at earlier appointments. However, the following items will be of particular interest to those of you who have inquired about donating a kidney to Nate:

1. The 4-day/week dialysis that Nate currently undergoes performs only about 12% of normal kidney function.

2. Most patients on dialysis cannot qualify for a transplant because of age and/or additional health challenges.

3. The waiting list for a kidney transplant from a deceased donor is 5-8 years, depending on the recipient's blood type.

4. A willing, living donor can shorten this time frame to as little as six months.

5. With today's advances in transplant technology, living donors only need to be blood-type compatible. A living donor must be at least 18 years old, but preferably not older than 55. Donors may not be solicited, but must willingly volunteer.

6. Living donor transplants last twice as long as deceased donor kidneys.

7. Living donors are thoroughly evaluated to determine how kidney donation will affect the donor (physically, emotionally, etc.). The donor must be free of any medical condition that may affect their remaining kidney's function in the future.

8. A living donor will remain in the hospital for 3-4 days after surgery. They will be cleared to return to work after three weeks, but will be restricted from major physical activity for six weeks.

9. The recipient's insurance will cover all medical expenses for the donor, except travel and loss of wages.

10. Nate is scheduled to meet with the transplant surgeon at St. Joseph's Hospital on May 25th. It is imperative that the rest of his body is stabilized by this date (red blood count, heart, stomach, etc.).

11. In the meantime, we have been asked to compile a list of blood donors to provide blood for both Nate and his kidney donor.

If you are willing to donate blood, or want more specific information about kidney donation, please contact our oldest daughter, Alicia Epperly, via email (Alicia.Epperly@gmail.com).

Thank you for sustaining our entire family with your prayers. The power of the worldwide Body of Christ is truly amazing. We are still praying that God, by His grace, will choose to regenerate Nate's atrophied kidney. Enjoy a blessed Resurrection Sunday!

~ Tim