By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — Life has changed drastically for Dan Daggett in the past year.
Daggett had struggled for years with a hereditary ailment known as Polycystic Kidney Disease.
“I’m the fourth generation on my mom’s side to be diagnosed with the disease, and I’m the first in the family to have the opportunity for a transplant,” he said.
Twelve months ago, his kidney function had dropped to less than 9 percent (requiring dialysis) when a childhood friend from his days growing up in North Manchester looked into whether he could be a donor.
Doctors didn’t think the organ match with his friend was perfect, but it was close enough, and both men underwent surgeries in late July at IU Health in Indianapolis.
Daggett said the recovery has been a slow process. He still has moments of exhaustion, but feels he’s about 85 percent back to normal.
Doctors continue to monitor his circumstances, and he’ll be on anti-rejection medicine for the rest of his life.
And while he took off several months from work at his job in southern Indiana, Daggett also took the opportunity to transition back to WRSW 107.3 FM in Warsaw, where he began his radio career 40 years ago.
He now oversees sales for three radio stations that are part of the Kensington Digital Media family.
Daggett is quick to note that he’s been fortunate.
Twelve people die every day while waiting for a kidney transplant in the United States.
Daggett’s wait only lasted seven months.
“I almost consider it to be a miracle,” Daggett said. “And then to be able to come back to stations that I grew up with and love is really special.”
“I’m very lucky,” he added.
Daggett was one of 1,214 people to receive a lifesaving organ transplant last year in Indiana.
You can learn more about being an organ donor at Indiana Donor Network.
