GRAND RAPIDS, Mich — It's been a work in progress, but Dana Tosh is happy to be here. In March, doctors weren't even sure she'd be alive much longer.
"I was hospitalized with E. coli poisoning, and was diagnosed with something called STEC-HUS, which does destroy your kidneys instantly."
But she made it out. Now, she needs a life saver. Dana needs a kidney donor, specifically someone who has "A" or "O" blood types.
She's currently going through daily dialysis treatments.
"I'll never know why it happened," said Dana. "I can't question it, it doesn't help. So I truly feel God has a purpose in this and I will find out what that is someday. But in the meantime, it's one step at a time."
While she waits for that kidney, she's reaching new heights.
On Sunday, Dana, along with dozens of friends and family, climbed the largest ski hill at Cannonsburg Ski Area.
When she was in the hospital, she could hardly take three steps.
It only took her around 20 minutes to climb the hill on Sunday.
"I always like a goal," said Dana. "I'll feel better by accomplishing it, so why not?"
Walking right beside her were her children, Meagan Wiersam and Brad Baker, who are more than proud of the strong woman that's jumping through life's hurdles.
"There's probably a lot of moments in March and April where we didn't think that this day was going to happen, and so I think it's huge for us to be able to celebrate with her and join her in this huge goal that she has," said Meagan. "It's very meaningful for sure."
Now that she's done with the climb, she waits.
"You're born with two kidneys and you only need one. You can live a very healthy life, the rest of your life with one kidney, and you've saved a life. And who can say that? I mean, what a great thing to say that you saved somebody's life, and that's essentially what this is."
Dana is on the donor list to receive through Trinity Health.
For more information on living donor donations through Trinity, click here. They can also be contacted by emailing donor@Mercyhealth.com or calling 616-685-8979.
Dana's family has also set up a GoFundMe for the kidney donation process. That can be found here.
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