Kidney donation strengthens bond for uncle and nephew – InForum

MITCHELL, S.D. — Dan Backlund has a wild craving for green olives. He has a new kidney and his nephew to thank for that.

“You want to give me a Christmas present, give me garlic-filled olives,” Dan said laughing.

Dan Backlund, 71, and his nephew, Doug Backlund, both of Mitchell, South Dakota, are light-hearted storytellers when they talk about the journey through a kidney donation.

Doug will even show you the scar from surgery.

It’s been more than a year and a half since Doug gave his left kidney to his uncle, who was on the verge of needing dialysis before the successful operation in April 2024. The Backlunds and Doug’s wife, McKaylyn, shared their experiences of organ donation recently during a Mitchell Lions Club meeting.

During that talk, they shared that Dan picked up a new appetite post operation.

“I’ve craved green olives since I was a little kid,” Doug, 41, shared with the group. “What does a kidney have to do with your taste?”

Both Backlunds say they’re doing well and have recovered thoroughly. Regular medical checkup appointments have been mostly smooth. Dan now has three kidneys, and Doug one.

Dan learned there was an issue with his kidney during a high school physical when he was 16. Tests showed abnormal creatinine levels in his urine, an indicator used to assess kidney function.

Six years ago, Dan and his doctor began looking at a possible transplant. Dan eventually applied to get on the donor list as his health was good and he would be able to survive the surgery.

Doug knew his uncle was in need and decided to see whether he could help.

“He called and said he wanted to talk … I said, ‘Why in the hell would you give me a kidney?’” Dan said.

“Because you’re my uncle and you need one,” Doug responded.

Doug conducted video calls with medical professionals at the Rochester Mayo Clinic and later had on-site tests in spring 2023 to see whether he would be a match. Blood tests, physicals and psychological tests were all necessary. He told Dan he was approved for a match in September 2023.

“The likelihood for Dan and I to become a match was extremely small from what they told me when I started the process,” Doug said. “It was a conversation on Zoom, and the gal told me it would be like winning the lottery.”

February 2024 was the original timeline for surgery. It was Doug’s slow time of year for work and the six-week rehab afterward was best suited for him and his family at that point. He showed up to Rochester, did all the pre-operation steps and then found out doctors weren’t comfortable with Dan’s blood work. They had to reschedule.

It was a roller coaster to be so close to surgery day and have to push it all back, they said. Doug later received a plaque in the mail from the clinic congratulating him on his kidney donation and the operation had not even happened, though Doug acknowledged the care he received from Mayo Clinic “was nothing but fantastic.”

Both were cleared in April. They reported to the hospital together Friday morning and left at the same time Sunday morning.

Doug didn’t ask for much in return for his donation to his uncle, but he was adamant to get a photo of the process.

“Are we next to each other, side by side, in beds, or is he in a bedroom down the hall? How does this work?” Doug said. “How does it get from A to B? Is it in a bucket with ice or what?

“I actually have photos of the doctor carrying the kidney on a silver platter with ice from me to Dan.”

Each year, there are more than 25,000 kidney transplant surgeries nationwide, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing. It is the most common transplant surgery, but there are 90,000 people on the waiting list at a given time. Anyone can sign up to be an organ donor at the

Health Resources & Services Administration

website, or do it during the renewal of a driver’s license.

Dan said the kidney from his nephew means a lot since their family is close, and it allows him to spend more time watching his four grandchildren grow.

“He fully understands how appreciative I am,” Dan said. “What do you do for a person that gives you a kidney? There’s not really much you can do. He understands that. He told me it was a gift he wanted to give.”

Luke Hagen was promoted to editor of the Mitchell Republic in 2014. He has worked for the newspaper since 2008 and has covered sports, outdoors, education, features and breaking news. He can be reached at lhagen@mitchellrepublic.com.