BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – Nearly 100,000 people are waiting for a transplant in the U.S. Steve Wetzel is one of them, and he’s looking at a three to five-year-long wait.

Steve Wetzel was diagnosed with cancer in 2017. His doctors recommended 12 rounds of consecutive chemotherapy, and for a couple of years, his cancer went into remission. But in 2019, he was diagnosed with a different form of cancer. This time, though, the chemotherapy damaged his kidneys. About a year later, he was diagnosed with stage five kidney failure.

“It teaches you a lot of patience. You know, that it’s not going to be an overnight process in comparison to going to a walk-in clinic or a relatively quick fix with medication or anything like that,” Wetzel said.

While he waits on a donor match, Wetzel has to use an at-home dialysis system every night for about seven hours. He gets one month of supplies at a time— they fill nearly an entire bedroom in his home.

It’s not as simple as getting a family member to donate a kidney. Wetzel said a history of cancer, bad blood pressure and more can disqualify someone from donating. On top of that, his blood type is O, which means he needs a kidney from someone who’s either O positive or O negative, meaning he’ll likely need to wait longer than normal.

“The appointments continually can get taxing at times, but overall, it just teaches you to trust the process and be patient with the process, that the doctors have your best interests,” Wetzel said.

He estimates he’ll need to wait three to five years before he’s matched with a donor; he said typically, that wait time is two to three years.

Wetzel said on top of checking in with hospitals, he regularly checks the United Network for Organ Sharing’s kidney-paired program for possible living donors. You can go there as well if you or someone you know is searching for a donor.

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The Drake women’s basketball team started its 2024-25 season with an 84-78 victory at North Dakota State on Monday.

The Bulldogs were led by Anna Miller’s 22-point, 13-rebound performance. Katie Dinnebier added 19 points and six assists. Courtney Becker scored 13 points and pulled down nine rebounds.

Abbie Aalsma, a transfer from Illinois State, scored 12 points in her Drake debut.

The Bulldogs outscored the Bison 28-17 in the fourth quarter to rally for the victory. Drake plays host to Saint Louis on Thursday at the Knapp Center.

GRAND FORKS – The North Dakota Museum of Art, located on the UND campus, is hosting its 27th Annual Autumn Art Auction on Saturday, Nov. 9.

Fifty-four works of art by artists from throughout the region and beyond will be auctioned by professional auctioneer David Gorder, Grand Forks.

The auction is the museum’s largest fundraiser; proceeds fund the Summer Art Camps, Family Day, exhibitions, concerts and much more. It features artists who have exhibited at the museum in the past, along with artists who are new to the museum and the auction.

Tickets are $50 per person. Free parking is available next to the museum.

For tickets or information on live or absentee bidding, call (701) 777-4195 or go to

www.ndmoa.com/autumn-art-auction

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The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres, provided by area restaurants, along with beer and wine. A wine and beer cash bar will also be available.

The live auction begins at 8 p.m.

More than 30 local businesses are supporting this auction, according to the event announcement. The social will feature food donated by Blue Moose Bar and Grill, Ely’s Ivy, Ground Round, Little Bangkok and the Museum Cafe.

The artwork will be displayed on the Mezzanine Gallery for up-close viewing before the auction. Then, all artworks will be brought down to the stage in the main gallery for the live auction.

After the auction concludes, winning bidders can claim and take the artwork home or make other arrangements.

Each year, the museum produces a full-color catalog that highlights the auction artwork. It includes images, descriptions and information about each artist. The full catalog and list of sponsors can be viewed at

www.ndmoa.com/autumn-art-auction

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The North Dakota Museum of Art launched the auction in 1999 as a means to develop a market for artists in the region and to fund museum programs.

All proceeds from the sale of art are split between the artists and the museum, unless the artist chooses to donate the entire sale to the museum, said Brian Loftus, director of membership and marketing.

The museum is located on Centennial Drive on campus. Regular museum hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. There is no general admission; however, a donation of $5 for adults and pocket change for children is suggested.

The Museum Cafe is open for lunch weekdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a happy hour from 3 to 5 p.m. For more information, call the museum at (701) 777-4195 or go to

www.ndmoa.com

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