Todd Sowards, a 58‑year‑old football coach from Wyandotte, Michigan, has spent three decades shaping young athletes on the gridiron.
As his kidney disease progresses to Stage 5, his remaining function hovers between 10 % and 15 %, placing him on the brink of dialysis, a therapy that would dramatically curtail his time with family and on the field.
A Family’s Search for a Donor
Sowards’ wife, Tina, and their son, Brandon, have launched a coordinated campaign that blends flyers, social‑media posts, and yard signs to attract a living donor.
Brandon Hays, a transplant ambassador for Give to Live Health, serves as the primary liaison, fielding inquiries and guiding potential donors through the evaluation process.
Understanding Living Donation
A healthy individual can donate a kidney even when blood types do not match, thanks to paired‑donation programs that link multiple families in need of transplants.
Kidneys from living donors typically begin functioning immediately after surgery and often outlast those from deceased donors, reducing the risk of prolonged dialysis.
Sowards remains on a waiting list for a deceased donor, but the average wait can exceed five years, making a living donation an urgent alternative.
Those interested in helping can contact Brandon Hays at bhays@givetolivehealth.com or call 734‑219‑9240 for more information and to start the screening process.