My son Patrick has ARPKD, he was diagnosed at 20 weeks during a sonogram. I didn’t know what PKD was at the time. Like most people, you don’t know about it until it happens to you or a loved one. Patrick is considered “the miracle baby” after what we were told was going to happen shortly after his birth. To this day, people say that is the boy we were praying for! Patrick is now 14-years-old and like any other kid, big and strong. My wife Maureen looked for information about PKD and found the PKD Foundation. Through the Foundation, we tried to learn as much as we could about PKD. After regularly receiving communications from the Foundation, I thought it was time to step up and help the people who are helping people with PKD. In 2014, we will have our Third Annual PKD Foundation Paddy Plunge.
The idea for this came when my nephews and I went to support a plunge for another cause, but when we got there it was more expensive than what I had on me. We decided to just go down a few blocks and dive on our own. On the way home, I thought “why not plunge for PKD?” The following year, we did just that. We always hold it the Saturday before Superbowl Sunday, so it will be on Feb. 2 this year.
The feeling of raising money for PKD in the way that we do makes it fun and well worth it, a little sacrifice for a huge reward. People talk about and remember our event since it is unique. I wish I had a dollar for every person that said they have always wanted to try a plunge. It is a great way to bring family and friends together to have some laughs and funny memories while raising money for a great cause.
