PATASKALA — Throughout his life, Chad Wagy has faced numerous hardships when it comes to his health. 

But he's facing his biggest challenge yet. Diabetes and kidney disease have taken their toll on his body and he's in need of a kidney transplant. And while the lifelong Pataskala resident waits for donor, he's adamant that he'll keep living his life. 

After being added to the transplant list in spring of 2021, he started doing dialysis three days a week at a center of Dublin. In October 2021, he elected to start doing dialysis at home to give himself more freedom. Now he travels, goes camping and more — all with the dialysis machine tagging along.

"We have to show people that dialysis shouldn’t tie you down, and it’s not going to tie me down. We’re trying to live a normal life. That right there is the only abnormal thing," he said pointing to his dialysis machine.

Wagy, and his wife Catherine, dreamt of having their own farm, and in 2014 purchased about seven acres in Pataskala. The couple had goats, pigs, donkeys and nearly 150 thriving tomato plants. Wagy said they would sell tomatoes to a handful of local restaurants. 

Once Wagy was added to the transplant list, his care team recommended the farm no longer have livestock. And taking care of the tomato plants became too much with his dialysis treatments multiple days a week, Wagy said.

But doing the treatments from the comfort of his home allows him to live as much of a normal life as possible.

"I can set my own pace," he said. "I do this for hours a week, but once I'm done with this, I'm out mowing or I'm out doing (something)."

Doing dialysis at home comes with challenges though. The Wagys' dining room looks more a hospital supply closet with two floor-to-ceiling shelving units filled with the necessary medical supplies. It also wouldn't be possible without the support of Catherine, Wagy said.  

"She’s amazing," Wagy said fighting back tears. 

When the couple got married in 2008, it was before Wagy's diabetes diagnosis.

"All this happened throughout the years and she’s never left," he said. "She’s stuck with it, she’s given her 100% and I’m giving it my 100%."

Other family members including his father, Richard, and sister, Renee, have also been a source of support. His father especially has been amazing through the whole process, Wagy said. 

"He’s funny, he’s older and he’s like 'If I could, I’d buy you a kidney, but you know that’s against the law,'" Wagy joked. 

Another source of support has been the Wagys' faith, he said. 

"We both believe that God's got this. And I believe, I firmly believe now that if I don't get a kidney, that God’s using me as an example," he said. "But Catherine and I firmly believe that there's somebody out there. There is, (we) just got to be patient. Keep praying and, you know, get the word out. You can’t just sit back and let the disease get a hold of you. You got to get ahold of the disease."

One way they are getting the word out is through car decals that provide the number people can call if they are interested in donating. 

A hundred decals are being made by Kaitlan Merz, a family friend who has her own small business. 

Wagy has been open about his experiences on his Facebook page, which is how Merz learned about his need for a kidney. Through a family connection, Merz knows someone who has received a heart transplant. She has been a registered organ donor since she got her drivers license and donates blood as often as she can, she said. 

"I'm maybe not at that stage where I could personally give a kidney, but I'm going to do what I can to help you find that kidney," said Merz, a Pataskala native who now lives in Delaware. 

Wagy said he received donations from Carr Farms in Jersey Township and Quality Yard and Home Maintenance, LLC in Pataskala to pay for the decals. 

The donations and Merz volunteering her time, Wagy said, shows that community means everything. He credits his father who taught him to make friends and not enemies in the community. 

"He raised me the right way. You know, be kind, be courteous, be real. That’s who I am," he said. 

Those interested in a car decal or helping Wagy can contact 614-306-4461.

Through his faith and positive outlook, Wagy confident he'll find his kidney one day.  

"It’s funny, we had a dream of having this farm. Now our dreams have changed to dreaming that we’ll get a kidney someday," he said. "We had the farm, so the kidney will come."