My name is Don Reynolds. I am 64 years of age, married and a father to grown children and have several grandchildren. I am a Christian and I do believe strongly in God.
I signed up for a career in the USAF while I was still in high school. My father served in both the USAF and US Army. He traveled to Germany, Turkey, Thailand, Berlin and Augsburg Germany. I desired a career in the military as my father had, and to travel also.
My goal was two-fold.
- To receive training in the electronics field
- To travel as an adult to many of the countries where my father was stationed
- To retire at 38 years old, transition into a civilian career and finally retire with two retirement plans and social security
My training in the USAF was as a ground radar electronics technician. With the type of radar that I was trained for, the options for travel locations were significantly limited. As a result, I decided to not re-enlist after 4 years and was discharged under honorable conditions. I discharged at the rank of senior airmen.
Following discharge from the USAF, I decided to go to college and pursue a career in physical therapy. As I was raising a family and working full time, I only had the time to achieve my associate degree as a physical therapist assistant in which I completed attending part time for 3 years. I worked in this career successfully and after 18 years, I decided to pursue a doctorate degree in physical therapy.
I first had to achieve my bachelor’s degree which I did with business management. I then applied and was accepted into a doctoral program for physical therapy and graduated in 2016. I practiced for 8 years, then due to many service-connected medical issues, I was deemed 100% VA disabled, and I retired from active medical clinical practice.
My kidney disease was a result of a birth defect and not because of poor disregard for my own health. During my life, I was always very health conscious, an athlete and never had any serious health issues. My renal condition was chronic and well managed. It was not a progressive disease. When I was 10 years old, my father was stationed in Turkey. I became very sick. There was only a base clinic and no specialty physicians. They were told that they suspected the illness was related to a kidney issue but were not specific.
Unable to accurately diagnose the cause of my illness while stationed in Turkey, I had to wait several months before we transferred back to the United States and then was able to be seen by a nephrologist that diagnosed my condition as bilateral ureter refluxation. The valves in my ureters malfunctioned and urinary toxins back flowed and damaged my kidneys.
I underwent a surgical procedure to re-implant my ureters. From that point on, I was told I only had 40-50% kidney function and as long as I took care of myself, I would live a normal life. For almost 52 years, this was the case. I was an athlete and took very good care of myself. My kidney condition was a chronic stage 3
As a practicing medical professional, when Covid-19 restrictions were in place, I was significantly pressured to receive the first and second mRNA vaccination injections. Within 1-2 years of receiving these two injections, my eGFR kidney function decreased to between 14-20%. I was advised to apply for the kidney transplant list. At this point I have been fortunate not to have had to undergo dialysis, but I am very close to this point.
I attempted to work part-time as a cash-based physical therapist, but within 8 months I realized that I was unable to maintain the endurance to work and also began having increased joint and muscle pain. I am not able to tolerate prolonged durations of standing now. I am now fully retired due to medical disability.
Presently, I am happily married to a wonderful lady named Lynn. My children (two daughters and a son) are grown. I have two granddaughters. My wife and children are very concerned about my declining health. With the recent decline in my kidney function, I was advised to start advertising that I was in need of a compatible kidney donor. I was very hesitant to ask my family, let alone strangers.
My primary mode of enjoyment and relaxation is playing guitar, writing and recording music, and spending time with my family. I advise and strive to provide health guidance to people that ask. I would love to regain my endurance, decrease my muscle and joint pain and return to my occupation, at least part-time or as needed basis, helping people heal utilizing my doctoral level as a skilled physical therapist.
After going through this process, and realizing how important the giving of our organs are, I will be listed as an organ donor after I am deceased.
For medically cleared donors, giving the gift of life through living kidney donation has been proven to be very safe. DOVE will assist all prospective donors throughout the process and make sure they do not incur any out-of-pocket expenses related to the evaluation or surgery. A healthy person can live a normal life with one kidney and save Don’s life with the other!
Your support, whether through spreading the word on social media or considering becoming a donor, can make a profound impact on his life and the life of his family!
Please click on the link below if you would like to learn more OR call (551) 233-1611