03/04/2026
It has been a while since the last update on Brian’s Kidney Transplant Journey. We are happy to share that Brian has been doing a lot better lately! His recovery post-surgery did take a bit longer than we originally expected. There were ups and downs along the way, and it took a little longer for him to really start feeling more like himself. The good news is that he’s been making steady progress and things have been looking up. Since September, he has been gradually returning to work and is now able to work full time.
He has had a few hiccups with his medications, but with the help of his transplant medical team at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and his primary kidney doctor, Dr. Shaban, MD, he’s been able to manage everything a lot better.
Brian’s body didn’t bounce back how he expected after surgery, and we can tell that his body reacts differently now given all the medications he is still taking. Trying to get his body back into shape has been a bit challenging so he is now working with personal trainer Todd Norseman. Todd has been spending some time with Brian helping him regain some lost muscle.
It has now been nine months since his surgery, and we’re really looking forward to celebrating his first-year anniversary this June. To mark the occasion, we’re joining forces with Kidneys for Kindness, a nonprofit organization that raises awareness about saving lives through organ donation. For more information about Kidneys for Kindness, you can visit their website: www.kidneysforkidness.org
We are planning a special community day at our Dairy Queen Store in Laconia to celebrate Brian and show support to others in similar situations. Hoping to help spread the importance of organ donation, we will be donating a portion of our sales from that day to support Kidneys for Kindness. A representative of the organization will be at the event for anyone that would like more information about the wonderful job they do. If you would like to contribute you can also make a donation to Kidneys for Kindness and join us in supporting their mission. We will share more information about this event as we get closer to June!
Brian is incredibly grateful for his second chance and the gift of life he’s been given. It has allowed him to spend more time with his family and he’s looking forward to becoming a grandfather in just a couple of months. This is all possible because of the beautiful decision one person made to become an organ donor; Brian’s kidney came from a deceased donor. We will forever be grateful to the donor and the family.
We are very blessed to be part of this community, and to be able to support this cause through our business. We appreciate everyone’s concerns, prayers, well wishes, and words of encouragement. The amount of support we have seen from the entire community has been unbelievable.
Thank you all,
From the Flanders Family.
