North Dakota man gets early Father's Day gift

A North Dakota man recently received his 2010 Father's Day gift several weeks early. According to an article in The Bismarck Tribune, Ray Westmeyer's son, Todd, became a living kidney donor on May 4, 2010 by giving his dad not only a Father's Day gift but also the gift of life. Ray was diagnosed with kidney disease three years ago and had become so weak that he could not continue enjoying his hobbies, such as hunting, fishing, and playing golf with his sons.

Ray's story sounds eerily familiar. I got a feeling Ray will be back in the woods and fields this fall with his sons. This hunting heart recipient hopes Ray's first hunting trip this fall will be as successful as my first one with my dad after my transplant. I was only able to walk about 200 yards from the truck that day, but I got two does and my hunting buddy Dennis got an 8-pointer - Dennis (left), myself (center), and my dad (right) on 11/17/07.