On March 25, teacher Darden Schurg donated one of his kidneys to his wife’s second cousin, Allen Johnson. Donating a kidney can be a mentally, physically, and emotionally difficult process. Even through this long and hard experience, Mr. Schurg and his family members made sure to make their time fun.
“The whole journey has been great. I have just been telling myself I am going to keep opening that door. I feel for him because he was on dialysis for four years and so things were not looking good for him,” Schurg said. “He had so many people lined up who wanted to donate, but when they would get farther along, they would get told we have to reject you because it’s not a match. I knew this person through my wife’s side of the family. I got to know him over the last five or so years. He’s just such a good dude, and every time we get together, we have a good time. Being in the hospital with him was almost like we just got to catch up and have a little party.”
Throughout the experience of donating a kidney, there were many challenges along the way. Mr. Schurg’s challenges were only temporary and something that he could overcome.

“I don’t think it’s ever fun to go to the hospital. It started to cause me to be held up in my personal life. I am a pretty active guy. I’m a wrestling coach, football coach, and track and field coach, so my whole life as an athlete and then a teacher gets held up and causes me to not be able to do things to an extent,” Mr. Schurg said. “For example, I can’t pick up my kids right now, so with the 10-pound weight limit my 6-month-old baby is too heavy for me to pick up. But, those are just very temporary things that will go away.”
When doing something this important, it is vital to have the inspiration to keep going. For Mr. Schurg, one of his co-workers and his dad were inspirations for him. His co-worker had exposure to donating kidneys in the past and was a good source of advice. Mr. Schurg’s dad was supportive despite his reservations because he was concerned for his son’s health and wellbeing.
“Mrs. Holman was a big push, and she donated a kidney back in 2011. Seeing someone I had been working with during that year and being fine after doing it was inspirational. She is an excellent resource to lean on,” Mr. Schurg said. “I think my dad would be the one who inspired me the most. He wasn’t the biggest fan of it, but at the same time, the way he lives life and how much he had done for us when we were kids made me feel like my dad exemplified someone who could give everything and continue to give more.”
Overall, the process of donating a kidney takes a lot of all-around strength, dedicated supporters, making the negative positive, and making sure during these challenging times that you also make time to have fun with your family.