Daniel Sanders

For most of his life, Daniel “Dan” Sanders has been the one encouraging others to keep going. As a teacher and coach, he dedicated his career to helping young people learn, grow, work hard, and believe in themselves. As a father of four, he has carried those same lessons into his family. Today Dan is relying on those lessons himself as he faces the biggest challenge of his life.

Dan was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was just 16 years old. For more than 40 years, he has worked hard to manage his diabetes while maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle. He never wanted his diagnosis to define him or prevent him from living a full life. Through decades of teaching, coaching, raising a family, and caring for others, Dan kept moving forward.

But more than four decades of living with diabetes have taken a tremendous toll on his body.

For over five years, Dan has been on dialysis as his kidneys have struggled to do the work his body needs. After years of health challenges, appointments, treatments, and setbacks, Dan received news that gave him hope: he qualified for a kidney transplant.

Unfortunately, while waiting for that lifesaving kidney, Dan’s heart began to fail as well. His medical journey changed once again, and what began as the need for a kidney transplant became the need for something even more complex: a heart and kidney transplant.

Through it all, Dan has continued to fight.

He has faced health challenges that might have caused others to give up, but giving up has never been Dan’s way. The same determination he asked of his students and athletes throughout his career is the determination he brings to this fight every day. There have been difficult days and unexpected turns, but Dan continues to believe there are better days ahead.

That hope was renewed when Dan learned he had been accepted as a dual heart and kidney transplant candidate at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona.

And now, he waits for the call.

That call could come at any time. When it does, Dan and his family will be ready to begin the next part of this journey.

Following his transplant surgeries, Dan and a caregiver will need to remain in Arizona for at least three months so he can stay close to his transplant team during the critical early stages of his recovery. While Dan is fortunate to have good health insurance that is expected to cover most of his medical expenses, insurance does not eliminate the significant costs associated with temporarily relocating away from home.

Dan’s campaign will help with temporary housing and other eligible transplant-related expenses associated with staying in Arizona during his recovery.

After spending a lifetime teaching, coaching, supporting his family, and encouraging others to persevere, Dan now needs his community cheering for him.

A successful heart and kidney transplant would mean more than new organs. It would mean the opportunity for more time. More time with his four children. More family gatherings. More conversations and laughter. More ordinary days that, after a journey like this, become extraordinary gifts.

Most importantly, it would give Dan the opportunity to begin a new chapter after spending so many years fighting simply to stay healthy.

Please consider supporting Help Hope Live in honor of Dan and sharing his story with your friends, family, colleagues, former students, athletes, and community. Every contribution, every share, every prayer, and every word of encouragement reminds Dan and his family that they are not facing this journey alone.

Dan has spent a lifetime encouraging others not to give up when things get hard.

Now it is our turn to stand beside him.

Help us give Coach Dan the home-field advantage he has given so many others throughout his life. Together, we can help him be ready when that long-awaited call comes and support him as he fights for a new heart, a new kidney, and the chance to come home to the people who love him.

Thank you for being part of Dan’s team and for your generous support.