Heart Of A Donor: Collaborative Health Experience Reinforces Couple’s Support For ThedaCare

BERLIN, Wis. – Kenny Clark knew something was wrong back in late March of 2024. His legs and stomach were visibly swollen. He was fatigued and things just felt off.

At the time, Kenny, who resides in Berlin, worked for a drilling and blasting company and lived an active lifestyle. He was constantly on the go. Having to slow down due to fatigue was out of the norm for him. He hadn’t been to a doctor in years and now he needed to see one, quickly.

“I was not feeling the best so I went to the emergency department because of how swollen my legs and belly were,” he said. “My wife Michele and I rushed to ThedaCare Medical Center-Berlin. I was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver with ascites.”

The condition results from severe liver scarring which causes fluid to accumulate in the abdomen. Increased pressure in the liver’s blood vessels forces fluid outward, leading to abdominal swelling, weight gain, discomfort and shortness of breath. In advanced cases, a liver transplant may be required.

An Unexpected Diagnosis

The cirrhosis diagnosis came as a surprise, Michele said.

“It was a shock. I could not believe it as Kenny always seemed so healthy and strong,” she said. “I was also a little frustrated because he never went to the doctor, he didn’t have a primary care provider and maybe we could have caught the condition sooner if he had. But then we switched into fight mode, ready to figure out what we needed to do to get Kenny healthy again.”

The Clarks were confident in the care they would receive at ThedaCare. Both have supported the ThedaCare Family of Foundations for about a decade. Michele has been on the ThedaCare Foundation-Berlin board since 2017, having learned about the Foundation while volunteering at a local cancer awareness event. She also held roles among the executive committee on the ThedaCare Family of Foundation board and currently serves as President.

Kenny, initially “scared and in shock” after his diagnosis, was connected with a primary care physician for follow up care. In early April, he saw Dr. David Budde, a Family Medicine Physician with ThedaCare. Dr. Budde recommended Kenny see a liver specialist at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin.

The care would be seamless, Kenny was told. At the time, ThedaCare and Froedtert were combining to form Froedtert ThedaCare, the state’s most comprehensive health care system.

Liver Transplant Needed

Kenny, 57, met with the specialist in mid-April. That’s when he learned he would need a liver transplant.

The procedure removes a liver no longer functioning properly due to disease or sudden, acute liver failure and replaces it with a healthy liver from a donor. According to the American Liver Foundation, there were 11,458 liver transplants in the U.S. in 2024.

Before he would be considered for a transplant, Kenny needed to work with teams to undergo a series of assessments. That plan was temporarily sidelined when Kenny faced a new challenge.

On May 7, his health took a downward turn. He was vomiting, lethargic and exhibiting signs of confusion.

“I called for an ambulance,” Michele said. “They took him to ThedaCare Medical Center-Berlin. The same emergency doctor that diagnosed him was on duty so he was familiar with Kenny’s situation. Kenny needed to be transported to Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa.”

Another Liver Illness

Upon arrival at the hospital, Kenny was quickly treated for hepatic encephalopathy. It occurs when the liver doesn’t filter neurotoxins from the blood. That allows the neurotoxins to reach the brain and disrupt its cognitive and motor functions.

He recovered. Still, his brush with hepatic encephalopathy was additional evidence of his need for a liver transplant.

“Because of not going to the doctor for years, Kenny had to undergo a lot of testing to ensure he was healthy enough to be able to manage the liver transplant,” Michele said. “He also underwent a number of exams to determine if he was a transplant candidate. He was, so they put him on a waiting list to receive a donated liver.”

Kenny remained in the hospital as he waited for word of a donor. It was an emotional time, he recalled. Fortunately, he had a strong support network.

“It was tough not knowing what was going to happen with a possible donor and having to be in the hospital undergoing all that testing because of never going to the doctor,” Kenny said. “My wife and brother were there with me at every appointment and the entire time I was in the hospital. My sisters and friends stayed connected with my wife and brother during this time getting updates about my progress.”

Waiting For the Call

Kenny remained in the hospital through late May, recovering and waiting. Then, he received a promising phone call on June 2. He underwent successful liver transplant two days later.

It should have marked the end of his health ordeal, he said. Instead, a lingering issue grew in severity. Kenny’s kidneys weren’t functioning properly. It was renal failure.

The initial hope was that his liver surgery would also benefit his kidney function. It did not and in January of 2025, Kenny received a donated kidney from his sister.

Today, Kenny is well. His liver and kidneys are functioning as they should. He said he’s enjoying his unique, best life. And he even has a primary care provider in Dr. Budde.

“Outside of having to be on anti-rejection medication for the rest of my life, everything is great,” he said. “I am retired and enjoy doing things that I want to do like hunting, fishing, working outside and traveling.”

The Clarks learned lessons from the health ordeal both said they’d like to share with others.

“Listen to your body, start a health care relationship with a primary care provider and listen to your care providers,” Kenny said. “Also, consider organ donation. I was not an organ donor prior to this, but I certainly am now.”

Michele said it’s important to be supportive when a person is undergoing a health challenge. She is a breast cancer survivor and understands the importance of support. Her health experience and now her husband’s are why the couple fervently supports the ThedaCare Family of Foundations.

“It’s about providing that much-needed support for others within our community, ensuring everyone has access to the important care, much like Kenny did,” she said. “Beyond that, I remember how I felt when I heard my diagnosis. Knowing that you do not have to battle alone is huge. Having that support – financial, emotional, spiritual, physical – means everything.”

Heart of a Donor Series

This article is part of a planned series featuring generous donors who support the ThedaCare Family of Foundations. Donations to the ThedaCare Family of Foundations help fund projects and programs on many levels across the system. If you know a donor, or community organization, who has a connection to the ThedaCare Family of Foundations, and believe should be featured in the “Heart of a Donor” series, please email Foundations@thedacare.org.

To learn more about the ThedaCare Family of Foundations and the impact of donor support, please visit ThedaCare.org/Foundations.