Melissa Ostermeyer, left, will be donating a kidney to her son, Jacob, middle, who is 16 and has a kidney disease. Jacob’s father, Kieth, right, also volunteered to donate a kidney, but he was not a match; Melissa was.

In coming months, Melissa Ostermeyer will give something to her son, Jacob, for which he’ll be thankful many Novembers to come.

Jacob Ostermeyer, 16, is a Tonganoxie High School sophomore who suffers from membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis Type I, or MPGN, a kidney disease.

Now, Jacob is in need of a kidney and his mother will donate one of hers to her youngest child.

Jacob was diagnosed six years ago with the condition, and for much of that time Melissa said Jacob has been able to combat the condition with diet and medication.

Earlier this year, the family learned that Jacob was sick. Blood work revealed he was in range for stroke or an aneurysm, Melissa said. Jacob spent a week in ICU and later had to undergo two dialysis catheter surgeries. In the past, Melissa had contemplated being a donor for Jacob, but after those sugeries, she stepped up her investigation. While she was a match, her husband, Keith, wasn’t.

When the transplant will take is place is dependent upon a Dec. 17 doctor’s visit and test results from that appointment, Melissa said.

A hunter

Jacob recently nabbed a buck, which was reported in the Tonganoxie Mirror. The deer story, which also focused on Jacob dealing with his illness, caught the eye of John Mozingo, who is on the board of directors for the United Special Sportsmen Alliance. USSA is a non-profit “dream wish” organization that specializes in sending critically ill and disabled youth on outdoor adventures. Word also made its way to Bob Lindquist, who shoots video for Footprint Productions’ “Hunting In God’s Country,” which can be seen on the Outdoor Channel.

Through USSA, Jacob was invited to take a trip to Wisconsin for a bear hunt. His father joined him, as did Mozingo and Lindquist. His story will appear on a segment on “Hunting In God’s Country.”

And he got a 230-pound black bear on the trip.

Hunting has been Jacob’s No. 1 hobby, along with fishing and trapping, and he’s also been involved in 4-H.

Coping with illness

Today, Jacob generally has to stick to a low-sodium, low-phosphorus diet.

“I can’t have dark pop,” Jacob said, noting he drinks his share of the light-colored Mountain Dew.

Although he has to watch what he eats, there is a Thanksgiving dish his mother usually prepares that he is looking forward to.

“Cheesy potatoes,” Jacob said with a smile.

Through their experiences, the Ostermeyers have become avid supporters of organ donation.

“If you’re not already signed up as a donor, sign up,” Melissa said.

She said it was important to not only make the distinction on one’s driver’s license, but to also talk about it with family. And, she said, people need to register with the Midwest Organ Transplant Network. The network’s Web site is www.mwob.org.

“The family must be aware of the wishes,” Melissa said. “The family can override that.”