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From the Heart               

In 2022, Mr. Eads wrote an amazing article featuring myself and my dad and his journey to get a kidney. Well, it has been over a year and here is my current take written from the heart. 

The world in which we are currently growing up can be tough.

As young athletes, we are pushed more and more every day, being constantly compared to others and thrown out there on social media, but it is up to us to realize what we want and what is truly important. 

For me, my young life completely changed in an instant when my dad’s kidneys failed and he needed a life-saving kidney transplant. I was shocked, angry, sad, and mad, but eventually knew that this was happening… and this was real life now for me. 

I had to do something to help and so I leaned on my favorite sport, softball, to get me through. 

For a year and a half, I watched my dad—my throwing partner and my hero—become weak and very sick after his three-times-per-week dialysis treatments. 

Every single day, I rushed home from school to make sure my dad was still there and that I could still give him a huge hug. And every single day, I knew that he was struggling and not feeling well, but he still worked hard and never missed a beat. 

My dad never missed training with me, never missed a hitting or fielding lesson and never missed a tournament. 

I saw this strength in him to never give up and I modeled that strength even more.

I pushed myself even harder and I loved it and continue to love it. I was healthy and I could move my body, I could hit, I could throw, I could field and, now, I was his strength on his toughest days. 

So, I took it a step further and used my @bucktiktok platform to help spread the word about my dad and how he needed a kidney. 

These videos “blew up” and went viral!

Seemingly every local and national news channel picked up my dad’s story as well. We were everywhere… and it worked!

My dad received the call that a complete stranger was giving him a kidney. His transplant happened on January 5, 2023, and it was a success! 

Now, just over a year later I have my dad back! He is stronger and pretty much back to normal and we get to train everyday together, just like before. 

For me, softball is not only a sport that I love, but also a passion.

I love how the dirt feels in my hand when I step out onto that field and the game of softball and all of the training that I love helped me through the hardest time of my life so far. 

Every one of us has gone through something, is going through something or will go through something, but you need to find your passion and it will get you through the darkest of days. 

So, thank you softball, l for always being my passion and thank you, Dad, for being my strength.              

– Daniella Neve (Class of 2030)

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Be sure to watch this video produced by CBS Pittsburgh spotlighting dad and daughter: