BNSF employee shares kidney, gift of life with his coworker

By MIKE PAGEL 
Staff writer 
 
At the University of North Dakota School of Medicine in Grand Forks, med students recently gathered for a special presentation from two BNSF railroaders. Every year since 2020, Switchman Jeffrey Kniert and Locomotive Engineer Donnie Anderson have met with students at the school to tell their story.  

They share a message of hope, inspiration and generosity. In 2019, Kniert donated a kidney to Anderson. 

In the relatively small community of Grand Forks, there’s a strong sense of family, especially among BNSF team members.  

“A lot of people know each other around here,” Kniert said. “And it seems like everyone is always willing to lend a hand when needed.” 

In 2019, Kniert’s coworker Anderson needed more than just a hand – he needed a kidney.  

Anderson had been diagnosed with IgA nephropathy, or Berger disease. It’s a relatively rare disorder that causes a germ-fighting protein to build up in the kidneys that, over time, can interfere with kidney function.  

“News travels fast in a small terminal like Grand Forks,” Kniert said. “And everyone knew that Donnie wasn’t doing so well.” 

When they were assigned to work together, Kniert realized how ill Anderson was. Treatment options were limited. Anderson would soon need to start dialysis, and ultimately, he would need a new kidney to survive.  

Kniert said Anderson rarely complained, nor did he directly share his grim prognosis. Yet, the wheels were turning in Kniert’s mind throughout their time together on the train. 

“The whole time I was sitting next to him, I kept thinking: ‘If I were in that condition, I would hope someone would do something for me,’” Kniert recalled.  

Soon Kniert and Anderson were talking about kidney donation. After learning more about the difference a new kidney could make in Anderson’s life, Kniert was motivated to help. 

A donor needs to have compatible blood groups and tissue to even be considered a candidate.  Family members can sometimes be a good match, but donors who aren’t related to a prospective recipient are rarely a good match.  

In this case, the stars aligned.  

“Things progressed really fast and as it turns out, we were a really good match for each other,” Kniert said.  

He recalled the moment when the decision practically made itself. 

“I always try to teach my kids to do the right thing,” he said. “How could I continue to do that if I wasn’t willing to do it myself? It dawned on me that I’d be giving Donnie more than just a kidney. I’d be giving him another 30-plus years of life.  This was meant to be.”  

The surgeries were pronounced a success, and the results were immediately evident. “Donnie walked into my room just a few hours later and he said he felt like a million bucks,” Kniert said. “His color had returned to his face already and he just looked great.”  

After a two-day stay in the hospital, Kniert and Anderson returned to their homes and were quickly on their way to a full recovery.  

Five years later, Anderson’s new kidney continues to function well, and his quality of life has improved drastically. In fact, his one kidney is functioning as well as two.  

“I obviously can't thank Jeff and his family enough,” Anderson said. “Not only did he give me an incredible gift, he made the whole process so much easier for me. I think he knew I was going through a lot and that I was running out of time.”  

Anderson also appreciates his BNSF coworkers who supported him through the whole process. Some even transferred their paid days off to him and Kniert.  

“My love language is through acts of service,” Kniert said. “We all have a capacity to help in some way. Whether it's an organ donation or just a listening ear. Everybody needs some sort of help, and everybody has a service to offer. I think that’s the best way we can build community.” 

To learn more about the process of becoming a living donor, visit the National Kidney Foundation website.