Story by Randy Porter
NEBRASKA CITY (SNR) - There is just something special about the Nebraska City community, St. Mary Catholic Church and the Lourdes Central Catholic School family.
Ask Derek McGinnis or Jon Borer. Borer is assistant principal/activities director and head football coach at Lourdes Central.
McGinnis, a 2008 Lourdes graduate, received a kidney from Borer Feb. 10. Less than one month later, McGinnis and his wife, Taylor, celebrated the birth of their first child, Hadlie, who was born March 4. The daughter was 19 inches long and weighed 6.2 pounds.
Mother and daughter are doing just great, Derek said. Taylor teaches fifth grade at Lourdes.
Borer and Derek met in 2006 when McGinnis was a junior and Borer began his first year of teaching. Last fall, Borer learned from Taylor that her husband needed a transplant.
Borer also had a discussion with McGinnis’ mother Cindy, a long-time friend.
“I immediately felt like I could help,” Borer said. “A lot is being said about my generosity, but there were many others who volunteered to do the same thing. I was just the one that was chosen.”
More than 50 people signed up to be the donor.
As an educator, he has always wanted to help students and alumni, Borer said. The opportunity to donate was God telling him one of his former students needed help, and he had the ability to do so.
“My faith in God definitely helped throughout the process,” Borer said. “My belief that God will take care of me and my family is one of my greatest gifts.”
He and his wife, Jacque, discussed a scary thought: “What if one of our children needs a kidney?”
He said he was instantly given the answer: God will provide someone else who wants to help.
Borer graduated from Bishop Neumann High School in Wahoo in 2002 before Briar Cliff University in Sioux City where he earned his degree in secondary education/history. He met Jacque while attending Briar Cliff. The couple has four children: Brooklyn, 13, Emily, 11, Jameson, 8, and Barrett, 3.
“I came to Lourdes right out of college in 2006,” Borer said. “That is when I met Derek.”
McGinnis was a student in his American History class.
In 2010, Borer accepted the opportunity to be head football coach at Thomas More Prep-Marian in Hays, Kan. He then became athletic director and head football coach at Mount Michael Benedictine in Elkhorn. He remained there until becoming a football coach and teacher in Fort Dodge, Iowa, at St. Edmond Catholic School.
“It was there the Lord, through a priest at Lourdes, called us to return to Nebraska City,” Borer said. “We were blessed to be a part of all of the communities. There truly are great people everywhere.”
“I’ve known that I had a kidney disease for about four years,” Derek McGinnis said.
Now, he is close to feeling like he is 100 percent his old self, he said. He had been on medication for the disease, and thought everything would be fine. Then, a year ago, the blood work numbers were not as positive.
His doctors changed his medications, but his condition did not improve.
The kidney function continued to decrease. By August, it was time to consider a transplant.
“I had lots of hope when changing the medications, but when I learned it was time to consider a transplant, it was kind of a shock,” McGinnis said. “It was eye-opening seeing more than 50 people come forward to be a donor.”
After graduation from Lourdes, McGinnis did not see Borer until the teacher returned there. McGinnis remained in Nebraska City where he farms with his family. Taylor, also from the Nebraska City community and a Catholic, graduated from public school. She continued her education and graduated from Peru State College where she earned her bachelor’s degree. She also received a master’s degree from Wayne State College.
Her job at Lourdes was her first as a full-time teacher.
“I have always liked Jon,” the kidney recipient said. “He and Taylor became friends through work. Our families became friends. They are great people,” he said about the Borer family.
The McGinnis family’s faith grew stronger from the entire transplant experience, Derek said. The faith of the Borer family helped. Many family members, friends and others prayed for him, and that certainly helped, as well.
The Lourdes community, St. Mary Parish and the Nebraska City community played a big role throughout his life-challenging situation, McGinnis said. That’s how Borer became his donor.
“And praying has helped so much,” he said.
