Steve Thon’s Kidney Transplant

05/17/2023

https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/shawnee-man-battling-kidney-disease-for-8-years-matches-with-niece-for-transplant

It’s can be hard to imagine the feeling when you're told you need an organ transplant, but that's the reality for a Shawnee man battling kidney disease.

12/16/2022

For 6 years, a dog named Capitan slept in the grave of his owner every night.
His owner, Miguel Guzman died in 2006 and Capitan disappeared shortly after the family attended the funeral services.
They searched everywhere and put out flyers to try and find him. But no one had seen him.
A week later, some people who were at the cemetery late one evening spotted Capitan laying on the grave and they contacted the grounds keeper at the cemetery.
The cemetery notified the family who promptly came to pick him up and take him home.
But each night he would cry and scratch frantically at the door to go out and he wouldn't return home until morning.
It was later discovered that Capitan would walk the 3 miles back to the cemetery each night to guard his master's grave.
It happened for 7 years.
The cemetery did not close the gates until he arrived each night promptly at 6 pm.
He slept there all night guarding the grave until the ground keeper opened the gate in the morning.
This is a true picture of Capitan here.
P.S : If there is ever true love in this universe ❤️ this is it!!

12/15/2022

A fisherman spotted her just east of the Faralon Islands (outside the Golden Gate) and radioed for help. Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived and determined that she was so badly off, the only way to save her was to dive in and untangle her…. a very dangerous proposition. One slap of the tail could kill a rescuer.
They worked for hours with curved knives and eventually freed her. When she was free, the divers say she swam in what seemed like joyous circles. She then came back to each and every diver, one at a time, nudged them, and pushed gently, thanking them. Some said it was the most incredibly beautiful experience of their lives.
The guy who cut the rope out of her mouth says her eye was following him the whole time, and he will never be the same.
May you be so fortunate to be surrounded by people who will help you get untangled from the things that are binding you.
And, may you always know the joy of giving and receiving gratitude 🙏

12/10/2022

Feeling so blessed that my story is being shared and people are reaching out. I have a KU kidney transplant coordinator now. Her name is Natasha at 913-588-3969. You’ll need my birthday when calling. Keep sharing. God Bless!

Eight years ago, Stephen Thon was diagnosed with stage 4 kidney disease. Since then, it has progressed to stage 5. He's hoping to find a match for the sake of his family.

11/27/2022

https://www.kshb.com/video

11/25/2022

I have been diagnosed with Stage 5 kidney failure. My kidney function has gradually gotten worse over the past several years, and I am at the point where my treatment options are very limited. I will need to start regular dialysis treatments for the rest of my life or get a kidney transplant.

For people like me, a kidney transplant can increase the chances of living a longer, healthier life. My dialysis can only do a fraction of what your healthy kidneys do for your body every day. I am likely to live longer with a transplant than if I begin dialysis. With a kidney transplant I can enjoy a quality life spending time with my wife of 45 years, 2 daughters, 2 sons-in-law, and 4 grandkids and watch them grow up to be adults.

I need a Type O+ blood type donor. My doctors have advised me that I will need to start dialysis in the near future unless I receive a kidney transplant. If I get the transplant before going on dialysis the success rate is much greater, and if I receive a living donor transplant the success rate is even better. That is where you can help.

I am currently on the national deceased donor waiting list. The average wait time is five years. The only other way to shorten the wait time is for me to get a transplant from a living donor. Even though most of us are born with two kidneys, we only need one healthy kidney to survive. That means you or someone else you know could save a life by choosing to be a living donor. Kidneys from living donors can even last almost twice as long as kidneys from deceased donors. Of course, a kidney transplant is a major surgery for myself and my donor, so it does have risks. However, transplant surgery is generally safe and very often successful. The donor typically has a short hospital stay and has some restrictions for a few weeks before returning to their normal activities. My health insurance would cover all the medical expenses for the donor.

There is no telling when I will get that call from my transplant center that a kidney is available for me. So, while I wait, I am choosing to focus on what is in my control.

I have decided to start my own search for a living donor. It is not easy, but I am reaching out to people closest to me for help.

Please share my story with others you know. You never know who may be able to help me find a donor.

Please let me know if you would like to learn more about the living donor process and what it takes to become a living kidney donor for me or someone else. You can also contact my transplant center at 913-945-6929. Thank you for considering my request and may God bless you in your decision.