About Sean Hansen

After graduating from Norco High School, he was offered a full-ride scholarship to play football for Utah State Aggies and drafted to the Seattle Mariners Major League Baseball draft and follow team. He decided to play football and work toward a Communications Degree. Sean spent four years at Utah State, which unfortunately did not work out in his favor.  When leaving Utah State, he transferred to the University of Azusa Pacific to play out his final year of football. He went to the Los Angeles Regional Combine and tore his groin; unfortunately, he knew his football career was over at that point. Jumping into the workforce was something he didn’t know how to do or think he would have to do; for years and years, he struggled to find his passion in what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. Through a lot of soul searching, he knew if he trusted in his faith, God would put him on the right path. He went on to get his Kinesiology Degree at California Baptist University because he knew that he had a passion for helping others. In January 2014, he was diagnosed with FSGS, a genetic kidney disease that challenged his mind, body, and spirit for almost ten years. His faith was tested, but he never gave up and continued to pray for hope and healing. Sean was blessed with a donor kidney in October 2022, and it was then that Imblessst came to his mind. He originally wanted to give his son and daughter an outlook that you can get through anything if you just have faith, hope, love, and a strong will to survive. Seeing how his children responded and how excited they were, he understood that his purpose was to share his story to a higher and deeper level. He wants to show others that not everything is meant to destroy you. “God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers.” 

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In January 2014, on an ordinary Tuesday, my life took an unexpected turn. My family and I had just finished our workout and were enjoying lunch at Wahoo’s when I received a call from Corona Regional Medical Center. They urged me to come to the hospital immediately. Although they permitted me to go home to shower and pack, they warned me to prepare for a lengthy stay. Sharing the worrisome call with my wife, we hurried home, I quickly prepared for a three-day stay, and we drove to the hospital with a sense of urgency.

 

Upon arrival, the hospital staff swiftly took me in, provided me with a gown, and escorted me to my room. Meanwhile, my wife was busy informing our family to gather at the hospital. As we all waited anxiously in my hospital room, the doctors arrived to share the grim diagnosis: FSGS, or Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis. This was a term and a reality I was completely unaware of until that moment. They explained that it was a kidney disease I was born with, leading to the formation of scar tissue on my kidneys' filters, the glomeruli, ultimately causing kidney failure. The only solution for a chance at a prolonged life was a kidney transplant. Until then, I would need to undergo dialysis three times a week, for four hours each session, to perform the kidney’s functions.

 

The diagnosis meant a drastic change in my lifestyle. The thrice-weekly dialysis sessions would significantly limit the time I could spend with my family, and I was faced with the reality of a restricted diet and limited water intake due to fluid retention issues. This prognosis was devastating, not only for me but for my family as well. I mourned the loss of the ability to partake in ordinary activities with my children and the overall impact on our family life.

 

Over the years, the restrictions and the dialysis took a heavy toll on my health and well-being. I experienced severe migraines, constant nausea leading to vomiting, and a general deterioration in my physical capabilities. My condition even led to me being diagnosed with cancer in one of my kidneys, requiring surgery for both the cancer and a concurrent hernia, adding to the already unbearable pain and discomfort.

 

Despite these challenges, we tried to maintain some semblance of normalcy. An attempt to attend the Norco Fair with my children highlighted my deteriorating condition when I found myself unable to walk up a hill without multiple rest stops, a moment that deeply concerned my kids and signaled the severity of my condition to me. Following the fair, my health further declined due to heart failure, exacerbated by long-term use of a blood pressure medication, minoxidil, leading to additional complications.

 

Through these trials, my life became a constant battle against my illness, drastically different from the life I had envisioned for myself and my family.

One day, while staying at my mom's, an early call from my dad delivered news that was both somber and hopeful. He explained that his friend Randy from work’s son, Ryan was found unresponsive and was placed on life support with no signs of brain function. Randy's family was considering donating his son's kidney to me, should he not survive. This news was bittersweet, as the possibility of receiving a much-needed kidney filled me with immense gratitude, yet the circumstances were heartrending.

 

A couple of days later, my dad informed me that Randy's son had sadly passed away. After a week of anxious waiting without any news from the kidney registry, I began to lose hope, thinking perhaps the kidney wasn't suitable for transplant. However, that very evening, a call from an unknown number arrived—it was the transplant clinic, announcing they had a kidney for me. The overwhelming mix of emotions led to a tearful embrace between my mom and me, a moment of profound relief and gratitude.

 

The journey wasn't smooth sailing from there. I underwent blood work to ensure the kidney was a match, trying to temper my hopes. The logistics of the surgery required waiting at the hospital for a few days, as the donor was transported to a facility close to mine to minimize the kidney's travel time.

 

I vividly remember the nurse who, with a beaming face, confirmed the kidney was a perfect match and the surgery could proceed. She noted the rarity of such a perfect match, hinting at divine intervention. The weight of a nine-year wait and struggle lifted, I was scheduled for surgery the following morning.

 

Emerging from the surgery, my heart was full of gratitude towards a higher power for guiding me through this journey and allowing me to reclaim my life, to be present for my children. This experience transformed my purpose in life. I now aim to support others in navigating life's trials, offering hope and strength through faith, love, and resilience. It's a testament that not all adversities are meant to break us; rather, they can fortify us. This belief is echoed in my work with a company that utilizes Christian principles to foster a positive mindset, helping people overcome life's challenges. Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength," embodies my journey and mission to empower others to face their battles with courage and optimism."