Mighty Member since October 2016
I am from a small town west of Chicago, IL. I lived in and around Chicago from 1998-2008, where I completed my college degree in Information Technology and my enlistment in the Illinois Army Guard. I currently live in a small town in Southwest Virginia with my wife and three children. My lupus story really began in 2004-2005, when I began experiencing joint pains and a butterfly rash. These problems became more persistent through 2006, and in 2007 I was hospitalized with a very high fever. After several days of tests and numerous consultations, a lupus diagnosis was returned. My life was changed forever. I have experienced many complications from this disease, including but not limited to: butterfly rash, swollen joints, stage 3 chronic kidney disease with renal hypertension and fluid retention, neuropathy, and stroke/TIA like symptoms. Kidney and upper respiratory issues have hospitalized me several times since my diagnosis. Rheumatologists, nephrologists and Mayo Clinic, have worked on my case. I experienced complete renal failure in mid-2017. I began dialysis and seeking a kidney at that time. My wife is a hospitalist nurse practitioner, and administered my home dialysis treatment for 2 long years. She and my kids are what keep me going. In July of 2019, I was blessed with a kidney transplant. While lupus and kidney disease are very real parts of my life, I am staying as active as possible and making the most of everything. I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, cooking, and traveling when possible. I currently work full-time for a defense contractor. Prior to dialysis, I supervised and managed several teams of IT support professionals. The opportunity to do so was a longstanding goal, and one way of "beating" the disease. My last management assignment was a team that supported a state's Family Protective Service, which was tasked with protecting the elderly and at-risk citizens of all ages. It was both challenging and rewarding. Ultimately, the state mandated an in-sourcing of IT services, which happened to correspond with my timeframe for dialysis. Immediately following my transplant, I began pursuing opportunities related to advocating and helping those in need; Specifically, those with illness and other disabilities. A part-time job with The Mighty became available, and I applied for it without hesitation. I had written an article about being a father with lupus a few years back, and wanted a chance to give back. Once I was cleared to return full-time, I sought an opportunities within our defense organization's Talent Acquisition team. Seeking and placing individuals who are passionate about their work, as well as benefit the Company, were a passion of my management role. I was blessed with an opportunity within that team early this year. It allows me to build upon that passion of helping others in their journey to find a career. I love working with my teams at both jobs. While my health has been relatively good for the past several months, I know how quickly that can change, and try to live life the best I can.