Grant
Jim's Son
My Story
My dad is the kind of man I have spent my whole life trying to become.
He is a husband, a father, a new grandfather, a leader, and one of the strongest people I know. He is also the reason I am who I am today. I would not be where I am in life without him, not even close. If I can become half the man he is, I will consider that a life well lived.
Right now, our family is facing something we never expected to face this way. My dad’s kidneys have failed, and he is currently on dialysis. He has been in the hospital fighting through complications, including an infection after having a catheter placed. He is tired, and our family is scared, but we are also hopeful.
The long-term hope is a kidney transplant.
My dad needs a kidney. And while dialysis can help do the work his kidneys can no longer do, it is not the same as having a healthy kidney. A transplant would give him the best chance to get healthier, regain strength, and continue living the life he has built with our family.
For me, this has become even more emotional because I recently became a father myself. My daughter, Ella James, just turned four months old. Her middle name, James, is a family name and a nod to my dad. That is how much he means to us. Even before she was born, his name and his legacy were already part of her story.
My dad is not just “grandpa” to her. He is Jim Paw.
More than anything, I want him to have the chance to watch her grow up and be part of her life as her grandpa. I want Ella James to know him. I want her to know his kindness, his strength, his humor, his work ethic, and the steady love he has always given our family.
He has always been there for me. Even when I was not at my best, I was lucky to have him. He showed up. He supported me. He believed in me. He taught me what it means to work hard, to love your family, and to carry yourself with character.
Now we are trying to show up for him.
We are asking for help sharing my dad’s story in the hope that it reaches the right person. Living kidney donation is a selfless and life-changing decision, and we understand the weight of that ask. But even taking the first step to learn more could mean everything to our family.
More than anything, we are praying for more time, more time for my dad with my mom, more time with his children, and more time for Ella James to grow up knowing her grandpa.