My name is Robert “Bob” Knutsen, and I am a retired US Naval Commander. I served primarily as an attack jet pilot on an aircraft carrier, a flight instructor, and then a land-based adversary pilot. During one of my deployments aboard a carrier, my Airwing had a small one-day skirmish with Libya and another time were in a 5 min alert with weapons loaded off the coast of Lebanon. Other than that, I had no full combat operations. My best memories of the Navy are the operations I took part in, the people I served and developed friendships with, and just being alive on this side of it all!
After retiring from the Navy, I flew airplanes for FedEx for 18 years and am also retired from that career. The highlights of my time with FedEx were the wonderful people I worked with, all the places I traveled to, and just being able to continue flying.
I was married to a wonderful wife and mother for 20 years but sadly lost her to breast cancer almost 19 years ago. I have three sons I’m very proud of and two grandchildren who live far away, but I like to see them as often as possible.
Up until about 15 years ago I, like most of my fellow aviators, considered ourselves bulletproof and only visited a doctor once or twice a year for a flight physical as required by the FAA or the Navy. But then blood tests showed a decreased kidney function and the discovery of polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a progressive and genetic disease. Strangely, none of my parents or ancestors had it but a urologist surgeon told me about 1 in 9 cases is a new one. Unfortunately, two of my three sons also have it.
Fortunately, I am not yet on dialysis but am getting closer to that point. I have been trying to eat a kidney friendly diet, hydrate well and play pickleball and exercise at least 4 to 5 times a week. I can tell it’s slowing me down some, but I’m determined… ”don’t give up the ship”!
I hope to receive a transplant and be able to travel more freely, especially to keep seeing my two grandchildren grow. I would love to still be here when my two unmarried sons hopefully start families. Two years ago, I began volunteering at the regional hospice and am part of a team that travels to the homes or care facilities of veterans who are in hospice care. A short ceremony and presentations are held thanking them and honoring their service. I feel I have so much to be grateful for, so I would love to continue participating in this, as well as other ways to “give back”.
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 Bob’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