“Service was in our family’s DNA,” Dave says, which is why he became a volunteer firefighter. He became a fire service instructor in 1983 and has earned several certifications including Firefighter 3, Fire Instructor 3, Fire Officer 4, and Driver Operator.
Dave still teaches several courses in the evenings and on weekends and enjoys working with students. “I enjoy teaching people how to properly do this job,” he says. “This training keeps them safe and helps ensure that ‘everyone goes home.’” Dave estimates he’s taught several thousand volunteer fire fighters over the years.
Dave was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in 2019. Although he followed the guidance of his medical team, he progressed to stage 5 in 2022 and has relied on dialysis since. He completes at-home treatments 5 days a week with the assistance of his wife.
Even as he battles his illness, Dave continues to support his community through the fire company, attending as many functions as he can and currently serving as the Fire Company President. In addition to this leadership role, he assists with the volunteer department’s ongoing fundraising efforts, writing grant proposals and developing ideas for new fundraising opportunities.
While always ready to respond to calls, he enjoys gardening and spending time with his grandchildren. A kidney transplant will mean that he will have more time and energy to enjoy life and continue serving his community.
Do you want to help Dave? Please share the link to Dave’s story or reach out to Kidneys for Communities at info@kidneysforcommunities.org to learn more about how you can help. The Kidneys for Communities team is here to answer your questions
