Community rallies for kidney patient

Thanks to an overwhelming amount of community support, a Ronan man who was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease can look forward to living a long and healthy life.

Lennie Hales was diagnosed with IgA nephropathy, a kidney disorder caused by deposits of the protein immunoglobulin A (IgA) inside the filters. As a result, Hales' kidney did not filter properly, causing high blood pressure and swelling in his legs and feet.

Hales discovered he had the disease in 2000 during a physical. The disease is rare in American men, he explained. About one in 100,000 is diagnosed with it. His doctor informed him that he probably wont feel any effects from the disease until he is in his late 50s. Thinking he had some time, Hales put it out of his mind.

But last April, it struck. Hales gained a lot of weight. His legs and ankles swelled to double in size. He began throwing up. He had a seizure and was raced to the hospital where he stayed for about eight days. Doctors found that these were the symptoms of IgA nephropathy.

"It was kind of a whirlwind," said his wife, Lisa.

"It all just happened at once," Hales said.

From May till early December, Hales drove to Missoula three times a week to undergo dialysis, each session lasting about four hours. Fortunately for Hales, a store manager at McDonald's in Ronan, the company and his coworkers were understanding of his situation and allowed him to maintain a flexible work schedule.

"All I did was work for a couple days and go to treatment the rest of the week," he said.

Knowing that he'd need a kidney transplant, Hales had his family was tested to see if any of them were compatible. There was only a 20 to 25 percent chance that any of his siblings would match, Lisa explained. If none of them were compatible, he could expect a six-month waiting period when placed on a national list.

He lucked out. Two of his five siblings matched perfectly. His youngest brother Keith was selected for the transplant.

"He was the youngest and strongest," Hales said.

"Doctors were amazed how at how close of a match his brother was," Lisa said.

The kidney will last about 20 years, Hales explained. His sister, the other near identical match, will provide the next kidney.

Although he found a match, the next hurdle to leap would be a monetary one. Hales explained that McDonald's provides him with great health insurance, but the $100,000 to $125,000 operation would also come with a considerable amount of traveling costs and time off from work.

To offset some of these costs, Lisa began a community fundraising campaign. Hales was reluctant at first.

"When we first started he was saying 'Oh this isn't going to work,'" Lisa recalled. "And I said, 'You'd be surprised."

Through word of mouth, folks in Ronan and surrounding areas responded to Hales' situation. Nearly every business donated something, Lisa said. For example, Don Aadsen Ford provided the Hales family with a free auto maintenance plan so they can make their weekly trips to Missoula. Ken Camel, a local artist, sold one of his paintings for $1,000 and put all proceeds toward Hales' operation. Generous donations came through the mail — checks from people they've never heard of. All in all, they managed to raise $9,000 to $10,000 and money is still coming in.

Hales just returned from Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle where he underwent the transplant. He is taking 12 to 13 pills a day, costing about $350 a month. Much of the money they've received recently is going to go toward his medication, Lisa said.

Hales said he feels healthy and is very appreciative of the community support he has received.

"It was amazing," Hales said. "Even my doctor in Missoula was amazed by the whole thing."

The Hales family issued this special thank you:

We would like to give special thanks to Moe and Carson Coryell, owners of Ronan and Polson McDonalds, for their support and understanding during Lennie's illness. They have been great working with him and his limited hours of work. The insurance they provide is also excellent. Also to Gayla Lytton who organized fundraisers for our family. She really went above and beyond getting donations, setting up the silent auction, and organizing the spaghetti dinner, yard sale, 50/50, Indian Taco feed, luncheon at CSKT complex and Holiday Bazaar. Our fundraisers would not have been a success without all her hard work.

We would also like to thank Community Bank Ronan and Ken Camel for the wonderful work of art that was painted by Ken and purchased by Community Bank with the proceeds being donated to our family. What a great gift.

We would also like to thank the entire community for all their thoughts, prayers, donations and support during the past seven months. We appreciate the cards, emails and phone calls that were sent by all of you! We are very thankful and appreciative of you all. Thanks to Janice Couture for the best frybread in Montana at the Indian Taco Feed, and to all the family and friends who helped make the chili and spaghetti. The following businesses and individuals were very generous in donating items for our silent auction and dinner. Thank you! Ace Hardware, Don Aadsen Ford, Cenex Harvest States, McDonalds (Ronan and Polson), K O Auto, Harvest Foods, Hanson & Granley, Lynn's Drive In, Mission Mart, Dr. Tim Bagnell, DDS, Les Schwab Tires, Ronan Sports & Western, Community Bank Ronan, Jackie Smart/Wright Reality, Arnies Gas & Tire, DQ, Java Junction, Early Childhood Services, Flowermill, Pizza Cafe, Ronan Auto Sales, Rosebud Deli, Vintage Rose, Total Home, Ronan Telephone Company, Radio Shack, Pheasant Bar, Ninepipes, Cool Bean Espresso, Malt Shop, Showboat Cinemas, Entertainer Theater, Judy's Town & Country, Ronan Sales and Rental, St. Luke Community Hospital, Willards, Mission Mountain Country Club, Joes Jiffy Stop, Cheers Etc, Silver Fox Golf Course, Polson Country Club, Hidden Mountain Framing, Dollar Store, KwaTaqNuk, Bev's Bloomers, Jore Corp., Stageline Pizza, Jim & Jami Hamel, Lake County Bank, Linda Rahe, Ronan Power Products, Flathead Sticker & Lathe, Trina Vanorny, Jimmi Clairmont, Kelly Potter, Jeanine Thomas, Callie Orien, Gayla Lytton, Joyce Mitchell, Gotta Hava Java, Lynns II, Carquest, Seattle Seahawks, and Gift Gallery.