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Jason Ellenberger hiked the Foothills Trail for AKF and DLIFE

Bear Bait

Jason Ellenberger

Trail: Foothills Trail     Goal: 76 Miles
Dates: Apr 12 2019 - Apr 18 2019
It is with utmost gratefulness that I am able to hike for the American Kidney Fund and Donate Life America. My journey began in 1975 (at the age of 2yrs) when I was diagnosed with diabetes. This disease eventually took its toll on my body and by the ... more
Total
Pledges
Total
per Mile
Total
Pledged
Miles
Hiked
Dollars
Hiked
Total
Donated

7

$5.00

$380.00

76

$380.00

$0.00


$361.00 $0.00 (95%)


$19.00 $0.00 (5%)

Journal
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Introduction

Home - Mile 0 - Oct 1st, 2017

Very early in my recovery I realized how fortunate I am to have had such a successful transplant. That may seem obvious to you but from what I've learned it can take much longer to find a donor and patients have experienced more complications. Through a kidney friendly diet and exercise I was able to hold off the start of my dialysis treatments. This also made my time on dialysis less restrictive than usual. I was able to have an expanded diet as well as ignore the standard fluid restrictions. Most dialysis patients are limited to one liter of fluid per day. My overall health qualified me for a kidney/pancreas (K/P) transplant which had a much shorter waiting list. The average wait for K/P transplant was six months versus five years for kidney only transplant.
To put all this into perspective. I spoke to many patients that had been on dialysis for years or didn't meet the physical requirements for a transplant. In both cases they anticipated on being on dialysis for a long time. My time on dialysis was much shorter; I started on June 15, 2017 and received my transplant on August 8, 2017. The initial estimate for hospital recovery was 3 - 6 months. I was released after ten days but had to return due to a fever. Even with the fever and an exploratory surgery I was released from the hospital twenty days later. My total hospital stay was only thirty days not the 3 - 6 months that we originally anticipated. I was back to work full time January 1, 2018 which is shorter than the originally estimated post-surgery hospital stay.
The thought of resuming the activities I enjoy has been a great motivator throughout my recovery. My mindset for recovery was simple, follow the doctor's orders, take my medications on time, ask questions, push the boundaries of my restrictions (physical) and follow the recommended nutrition plan. The initial physical restrictions were no lifting over ten pounds, do not strain the abdomen, and walk as much as possible. Of course, I had many questions regarding these limitations.
Is the weight restriction limited to ten pounds per hand or ten pounds total? How many times can I lift ten pounds? Is there a height restriction for lifting ten pounds? What is the minimum time or distance I should walk? What is the maximum time or distance I should walk? These types of questions went on at each doctor visit.
My recovery plan required me to be at clinic twice a week for a month, then once a week for a month, then every other week for a month and then once a month until my one-year anniversary. Now I'm down to monthly labs, a quarterly visit to my nephrologist and an annual visit to the transplant center. My recent questioning to my nephrologist was regarding nutrition and exercise; less to do as a transplant patient but more to do as a male over 40 trying to be healthier.
I did not reach my recover goals alone. My wife, Brellyn tolerated my mood swings, empathized when things got tough and encouraged me when she knew I was too scared to move forward but was too proud to admit. I could not have done this without her. My family both near and far gave me support, love and encouragement. My friends and colleagues let me know I was needed and was missed. The doctors, nurses and staff at the dialysis center made it easy to learn and become accustomed to dialysis treatments. The doctors, nurses and staff at the hospital cared for me prior, during and after the transplant. My nutritionist taught me to create a kidney friendly nutrition plan for each stage of CKD. My trainer helped me to progress in my fitness goals. Thank you!
I cannot begin to give enough thanks to the man who decided to become an organ donor. I will never know if his decision was simple or a struggle. I will never know if his decision was supported or argued by his family and friends. I do know that my family and I are grateful for his choice to become an organ donor and hope that many more will do the same.
This hike is the first of many to support the American Kidney Fund (AKF) and Donate Life America (DLA). The AKF provides several services such as financial assistance, grants, scholarships, education and research to fight against chronic kidney disease (CKD). The AKF can help pay insurance premiums or out of pocket expenses for both organ recipients and donors. They offer disaster relief grants for those displaced by natural disasters to allow them to still receive their dialysis treatments. There are grants to allow children to attend summer enrichment camps where they participate in activities such as canoeing, fishing and horseback riding, just to name a few. Other services offered through the AKF include clinical trials, webinars, continuing education and training to become a kidney health coach. You can find out more by going to www.kidneyfund.org.
Donate Life America is committed to increasing organ, eye and tissue donation to save and heal lives. A single donor has the potential to save up to 8 lives, restore sight to 2 people and heal the lives of 75. DLA provides education about living donations and distributes campaigns to promote donations. DLA also manages the National Donate Life Registry at www.RegisterMe.org. This registry ensures that your donor registration travels with you no matter where you live or move across the country. You can even manage your donor profile by adding/removing restrictions or remove your registration. You can go to www.donatelife.net to register or find out more about DLA.
Whether directly or indirectly, I believe one person can make a positive impact on many lives. My goal is to help others prevent and inspire them to overcome Chronic Kidney Disease. I will do so by hiking a new long-distance trail each year. You can help me make a difference in someone's life by sponsoring this year's hike. Please sponsor me to support the American Kidney Fund and encourage everyone to register to become a donor through Donate Life America. My kidney health, education and transplant could not have been done without the support from these groups. This hike is my way of paying forward the hope that was given to me.
"Above all, do not lose your desire to walk. Everyday, I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness. I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it. But by sitting still, and the more one sits still, the closer one comes to feeling ill. Thus if one just keeps on walking, everything will be right." - Soren Kierkegaard

Bear Bait

Home - Mile 0 - Oct 1st, 2017

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Sponsors

Donna Taylor
What an inspiration you are Jason!. 💪&
$1.00 per mile
up to $76.00

$76.00 due

Brandon Ellenberger
You got this! Proud of you brother!
$0.50 per mile
up to $38.00

$38.00 due

Wife of Bear Bait
So proud of you babe. You’ve got this! Smo
$2.00 per mile
up to $152.00

$152.00 due

jason ellenberger
Enjoy the hike. Proud of you!!
$0.25 per mile
up to $19.00

$19.00 due

Carol Stutzke
Good luck, Be safe. Love, MOM
$0.50 per mile
up to $38.00

$38.00 due

Caleb Ellenberger
Great work, You got this!
$0.50 per mile
up to $38.00

$38.00 due

Anonymous
Hard work pays off! Great job!
$0.25 per mile
up to $19.00

$19.00 due