08/18/2026
NEKOOSA MAN SEEKING LIVING DONOR!
Ron Siems’ journey began in 2019 when he had an aortic dissection that required open heart surgery. This health crisis started his irreversible kidney damage, which now leaves him in need of a kidney donor.
Ron went on to have 3 more open heart surgeries in Cleveland, Ohio over the span of 14 months. These procedures repaired and replaced, multiple times, his aorta, aortic valve, aortic arch and multiple major arteries. Ron’s 3rd surgery ended with endocarditis, a life-threatening infection. This in turn resulted in his 4th and final open heart surgery, which used human donated tissue to replace all of his prior aortic replacements.
Through all of these surgeries, Ron’s kidneys suffered major damage, requiring him to be on dialysis for a few months in 2024. Ron and his family were informed that he would ultimately need a kidney transplant in the future. The future is now, which is why we are coming to our followers to ask for help.
Ron and his wife Shelly have two daughters. In the past 5 months, they became grandparents, blessed with two new grandbabies! Ron has suffered through immense sickness in the past seven years. He would love nothing more than to receive the gift of life, in the form of a donated kidney, so he can go on to enjoy his family for many years to come.
If you feel you can possibly help Ron out by being a living kidney donor, please visit uwhealth.org/can-I-be-a-donor. From there you can start the screening process with a simple questionnaire. If asked, please mention Ron’s name and his hospital, which is University of Wisconsin. The donation journey is completely confidential and you can change your mind at any point in the process. If you would simply like to ask questions or explore the topic, please reach out to us via Messenger for more resources.
No matter your decision on whether you can donate, can you please share this post so we can continue to spread awareness for Ron and others in his same situation? We are grateful to each and every one of you for your time and efforts!
EDITED TO ADD: blood type is no longer of dire importance in donation! This is due to the many different programs that exist to allow people to donate in other ways that may not be a direct donation to the intended recipient. If you are interested and are accepted as a donor, these options can be reviewed with you.
