We as Sigma Pi Men work hard to make a difference in our local communities and the world, and that means being a part of philanthropy initiatives as well as those very personal causes that can arise in our own lives and impact those closest to us.
Brother John Hendley (Alpha Delta Pledge Class ’99) has been dealing with kidney issues for most of his life, as he was born with only one kidney.
In 2011, he was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and an autoimmune disorder called FSGS that has been attacking his sole kidney. Then in late 2018, his medical care team informed him that he’d entered end-stage renal failure.
John became one of 2,354 people in Michigan who was waiting for a life-saving kidney, or 107,000 nationally.
Those like John in need of a life-saving organ face a grim battle each day holding out hope, enduring dialysis, and wondering what the future holds for them. This article highlights how important this issue is.
John is an incredible brother who actively supports our Oakland University alma matar, and he and his wife Melissa have two wonderful boys.
Brother John Hendley and Family
Many undergraduate and alumni brothers helped raise awareness on kidney and organ donation in general, and to raise money and recruit potential living donors for a possible match — not only for John, but for all of those out there in need of a kidney or other organ.
Through a direct connection to Brotherhood, John’s story reached a donor and that materialized into an organ donation in late 2020, via Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital.
Specifically, it was Brother Matt Karrandja – a member of the ‘94 Pi pledge class who had graduated by the time John joined Sigma Pi – who stepped up in a small way, leading to a life-changing development.
A simple act of sharing John’s story on social media led to a match through Matt’s network. It turned out, that person wasn’t a direct match but his partner was. John received that kidney, while the other went to someone else in need of the organ.
John remains an active part of our alumni association and lives happily with his family in Florida and Michigan, depending on the season.
