My name is Ken Welsh from Burbank, IL. I am 46 years old. I have been with my wife, Tiffany, for 22 years. We have two children, Ken Jr (20) and Kenzie (17). Some of you may know that I was diagnosed end stage renal disease in June of 2024. This means that my kidneys do not to work well enough to keep me alive. I need to do dialysis. I currently go to a dialysis center three days a week for about four hours per day. While I am there, I am connected to a machine which filters my blood, the function that my kidneys can no longer do.
I am currently on the kidney transplant list at Northwestern Hospital in Illinois and at the University of Iowa Hospital. I am being evaluated to be placed on the list at the University of Wisconsin Hospital as well. The wait time for a kidney transplant from the various lists (from a deceased donor) can be up to seven years. Until I can get a kidney transplant I will need to continue dialysis.
The best solution is to receive a kidney from a living donor. The benefits of living donor kidney transplants are well‐documented; the kidneys from living donors have longer survival rates, function better and have fewer complications than kidneys from deceased donors.
I am typically a very private person, but I need help. I’m not asking for money or financial support, I am lucky to have great insurance from my employer which covers most of my costs. I am asking for the greatest gift anyone can receive: a kidney donation.
If you would like to learn more about how the donation process works, please check out the following websites and hopefully fill out the questionnaire.
Please share my story, you never know.
Thank you,
Ken
Northwestern Medicine
https://t.co/yPGayqrWql
University of Iowa Healthcare
https://t.co/E2Bo1qjhMF
I am grateful for the past four years as the starting varsity catcher for Reavis High School. I know I have grown so much as a softball player and as a person. I am proud of all my teammates and glad that we were able to push each other to become better. We lead Reavis to back to back winning seasons and our program’s first playoff win in many years. I hope we can get a couple more playoff wins starting tonight.
I have always loved hitting and am proud to have lead my team in many offensive categories over the years. I worked really hard and have won Offensive Player of the Year twice and team MVP this year. This past year I wanted to be recognized for my catching as well and worked really hard to improve my catching game. I saw a big difference in my blocking and feel like I have become a complete catcher. Besides hitting a home run, I love throwing out runners and I am glad I was able to throw out so many. I’ve learned that defense is just as fun and important as offense and am proud of the two Defensive Player of the Year awards I received. I was honored that I was a finalist for the South Suburban Conference Player of the Year this year.
I want to thank Coach D and Coach Madera at Reavis for believing and trusting in me since my freshman year. Coach Pat and Coach Annilisse for sticking with me. And Coach @CoachFahey10 for pushing me to get to the next level. I wouldn’t be where I am today without Kari working with me on hitting all of these years and Morgan helping me with catching.
Most importantly I want to thank my parents for always being there and supporting me. I love the game of softball and am glad that my dad passed his love for the game down to me. I am looking forward to playing this summer and then onto college in the fall to play for @pioneerssball. Thank you Reavis for the past four years!
@mikeclarkpreps@TBaranek@ReavisSoftball
Congrats to Catcher Kenzie Welsh on being named the 2026 Reavis Softball M.V.P. Kenzie was a 4 year starter & defensive stalwart behind the plate throwing out 45% of runners. Kenzie also led our offense with a .468 Avg. Finalist for SSC Red Player of the year and All Conference.
@BFW@Topps Just getting into the hobby. I bought my first box. @Topps Heritage high number, said I should have got an auto or relic card…got nothing. What a great start! 🤣
NEW GOAL: $3,500 😎
That number has a nice ring to it, but let’s keep raising the ceiling! Join our WST community in supporting the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
🔗: https://t.co/lgFfe1QS1w
Player Spotlight: Kenzie Welsh (‘26, Uncommitted)- Kenzie wrapped up her fall season on fire, finishing with a .556 batting average, .625 OBP, and .704 SLG%. An awesome start to your senior year, Kenzie! GREAT JOB! 🖤💛
Wow, I am truly touched that someone that I have never met wrote an article about my quest to find a kidney donor. I have been blessed to have met so many wonderful people throughout my life and am thankful to everyone that has reached out to me and shared my story. Please take a minute to read this excellent article written by a great person.
Lifelong White Sox fan @KenDub38 is battling end-stage renal disease and needs a kidney transplant.
Please read and share his story!
https://t.co/WTi7GRv58V
Lifelong White Sox fan @KenDub38 is battling end-stage renal disease and needs a kidney transplant.
Please read and share his story!
https://t.co/WTi7GRv58V
@KenWo4LiFe Thanks. Appreciate it. I hope your dad is doing well. There are different types of dialysis so hopefully his life isn’t interrupted too much. Thanks again for sharing, it’s great to see so many people sharing and reading my story. I owe you a beer at the ballpark next season!