This is the first year we have participated in the Nashville Kidney Walk and we're very excited to be helping this organization! We hope you'll consider sponsoring us on this walk! As many of you know, this is a cause that is very near and dear to our family. In Spring 2006, we lost Robert Forth, brother/uncle, to complications from kidney failure, which developed from years of Type 1 Juvenile diabetes. He had been on dialysis, a leg amputated, and died from heart failure. Doug Forth was diagnosed with kidney failure in January 2006. His kidneys were functioning at 5%. With the loss of his brother, Robert, we all knew it was going to be a difficult and possibly life threatening road. Due to diabetes, Roxanne could not be a donor; Michael and Rachel couldn't either, due to previous kidney stones. At this point, we turned to the two remaining brothers, Ed and David. Ed was under doctor's care with border line high blood pressure and was also not able to be a donor. David ended up being as perfect of a match as there could be. On January 31, 2007, Doug and David checked into Vanderbilt for the transplant. They both made it through the surgery better than the doctors had anticipated. Doug's new kidney started working before the surgery was even completed, and is still going strong more than a year and a half later. We are thankful for our many doctors, research professionals and nurses, both in Murfreesboro and at Vanderbilt University, and for organizations like this, which helps educate the community about Kidney Disease and Failure, as well as support those in need with this life-threatening condition. We are also very grateful for our friends, family, co-workers, employers and clergy who have gave their support and prayers to see us through this difficult situation. We are showing our support, by participating in the Nashville Kidney Walk for the National Kidney Foundation of Middle Tennessee, and we would love if you could show your support through a gift of any amount. It's all appreciated and all very much needed. You can donate through this site or by contacting me directly at RachelForth@Gmail.com. We are also looking for a few walkers to join our team. If you would like to join and walk with us for this cause, please email me at the email address above. Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too! Thank you from Team Forth, -Doug, Roxanne, Michael & Rachel Forth
