My Hero Has His Hero

May 8, 2026

Dear Handfield Kidney Quest Supporters,

First and foremost, thank you. Over the past several months, you have joined us in our quest to find a living kidney donor for my husband, Mike, who is battling end-stage kidney disease. Along the way, we’ve been blessed to meet and reconnect with so many compassionate people who supported us by sharing our story on social media. Our website, HandfieldsKidneyQuest.com has been and will continue to be a tremendous success.

This online presence was created by close friends who made it their mission to help spread the word. We will forever be grateful for your time, talents, and unwavering support. Thank you.

Today, I’m incredibly grateful to share some wonderful news: HELP HAS ARRIVED.

More than a dozen people courageously stepped forward to be evaluated as potential living kidney donors for Mike. While some were unable to continue due to medical reasons or blood type incompatibility, one extraordinary person completed the rigorous testing process and has officially been approved as Mike’s direct donor and “perfect match."

Mike’s hero is our sister-in-law, Sue, who is married to Mike’s brother. Rick.

Later this month, Mike and Sue will complete their final testing in preparation for surgery. We are hopeful the transplant will take place in early June at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. While these surgeries are complex, we are cautiously optimistic that final approval will come within the next couple of weeks.

Although we pray this chapter of our journey is nearing a joyful turning point, we know there is still a road ahead. Once Mike has recovered, I plan to move forward with my own kidney donation to someone in need, just like Mike. In doing so, I will receive a voucher that could be used in the event of future kidney failure. More importantly, I will have the opportunity to give the gift of life to someone in need of a healthy kidney.

For now, our focus is on keeping Mike strong and healthy for surgery while honoring our incredible hero, Sue. We’ll be scaling back our outreach efforts for the time being, but we promise to continue sharing updates as we move forward.

Please know how deeply grateful we are to our family, friends, and supporters who have stood beside us online, in person, and through prayer. We truly could not have reached this milestone without you.

God bless each and every one of you.

And please remember: the Lord gave us two kidneys so that we might have one spare to share. If you would like to learn more about becoming a living donor and giving the gift of life, please visit the National Kidney Registry (www.nkr.org).

Thank you again for your continued love and support, and please stay tuned for future updates at HandfieldsKidneyQuest.com.

Tansy Handfield