Whitefish teacher receives kidney from local parent

After seven and a half years of battling polycystic kidney disease, Whitefish Middle School teacher Sean Duff was donated a kidney by local parent Janelle Hansen last month, and both are recovering well.  

Duff may be a seasoned veteran in teaching language, reading and history, but he was still at a loss for words to describe the feeling of gratitude. 

“It’s an overwhelming feeling, that somebody wants to do that – or even try, because people have tried before,” Duff said. 

Duff was in high spirits after returning home following three weeks of recovery in Spokane. Hansen is in good health as well, with a cheery attitude.  

“It’s a scary sounding thing, but everyone wants to make a difference and do good in the world,” Hansen said. “But this was an actual, tangible thing, where you can make a difference in someone’s life.  

“How lucky am I? And, I had my husband and kids and mom and friends on board – I just did the easy part.” 

IT WAS AUGUST 2017 when Duff was unexpectedly diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease. He was teaching and coaching the Whitefish High School boys basketball team at the time.  

He “wasn’t feeling great,” he said, and went in for a regular check-up and was immediately sent to the emergency room. While in the hospital, Duff flatlined for nearly 2 minutes.  

“From that day forward, Kyla [my wife] and I just thought, ‘well, that part’s over. Every day is a good day from here.’ And that’s the attitude we’ve kept,” Duff said.  

Since then, Duff has received dialysis three days a week for four hours after school. 

“You can be positive or negative. And I choose to be positive,” Duff said. “Half the battle has been keeping mindset and knowing I have had a road to go down.”  

But now, with a new, healing kidney, Duff’s road forward is looking limitless. 

“I have time back. Quality of life back. Longevity of life. All of it,” Duff said. 

Meanwhile, Hansen said all she’s had to do is be more committed to getting in 64 ounces of water a day. 

Hansen first met Duff by overhearing his Zoom lessons during Covid while Duff taught her daughter Emyllia.  

“I could hear and see what was going on the computer, and I was like wow, he’s clever and challenging,” Hansen said. “He’s engaging with the kids – he made remote learning really fun.” 

Because Duff has always been transparent with students, Hansen was aware he needed a kidney, she said.  

In 2023, Hansen and her husband were delighted that their younger son, Cash, would follow in Emyllia’s footsteps and be taught by Duff.  

When they dropped Cash off for the first day of fifth grade, Hansen endearingly recalled that Duff looked like he had seen better days.  

“And I just turned to my husband Dan and I said, ‘If there’s something we can do, we should do it,’” Hansen said, and he agreed. 

HANSEN wasn’t quite sure how to go about the process but started making a few calls.  

She was eventually given a questionnaire – the same one that eliminates many potential donors from being able to donate. The questionnaire was the first of many head-to-toe medical tests, Hansen said. 

The organization running the match, Sacred Heart based in Spokane, has a high success rate. A high success rate also means health parameters and family history required for organ donation are strict, both Duff and Hansen said. A history of depression, for example, can eliminate a person from kidney donation. 

Since Duff’s diagnosis, 47 people have tried to begin the donation process, but Hansen was the first to see it through.  

“She got a hold of me last October [2023] and was just like ‘Hey, I’m going through the process of trying to give you a kidney,’” Duff said. “That’s the insane part – she didn’t even want a pat in the back if it didn’t work out.” 

The two supported each other after the operation as well.  

“We were dying laughing talking about like, hey, is this [side effect] happening to you to?” Duff said.  

Everything is so far, so good, Duff said. 

“My team is super happy with everything. My levels are crazy good – and I feel good too,” he said. 

“It’s almost overwhelming, the support of the community. I’m just so grateful."