In June of 2025, Ryan thought he had bronchitis.

He was struggling to catch his breath on routine dog walks. He was waking up in the middle of the night feeling short of breath. What seemed like a lingering illness became impossible to ignore. His doctor ran some tests and told him to go to the emergency room. There, Ryan received life-changing news.

Doctors discovered that he was living with both severe heart failure and end-stage kidney disease. His heart function had dropped to approximately 25%, and his body was holding onto so much excess fluid that he was carrying nearly 30 extra pounds. At the time, a kidney transplant wasn’t even the immediate goal. Before Ryan could be considered for transplant, his heart had to recover.

Over the following months, he committed himself fully to treatment. Medication schedules, dietary restrictions, cardiac rehabilitation, specialist appointments, and countless tests became part of daily life. Slowly, the hard work paid off.

Ryan’s heart function improved enough for him to begin the transplant evaluation process and eventually become eligible for a kidney transplant.

Today, Ryan is waiting for the call that could change everything. His kidney function continues to decline, and his most recent GFR was 7, meaning his kidneys are functioning at approximately 7% of normal capacity. Dialysis is becoming an increasingly likely reality while he waits for a transplant.

What makes Ryan’s story remarkable isn’t just the medical journey. It’s that he continues to live his life. He continues to work full-time while managing kidney failure and heart disease. He spends time with his daughters. He walks the dog. He makes plans for the future. In April 2026, Ryan and I were married after nearly a year of navigating this journey together.