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Last modified: Tuesday, September 29, 2009 2:43 PM CDT
Hankinson man supports others, now needs support
by Jennifer Johnson • Daily News
A man known to support residents in need may require the same kind of help. Hankinson resident Reno Brandt, 40, has been suffering from diabetes since he was 10 years old. As a result, he's developed severe nerve disorders in his spinal cord, legs, feet and hands. He received a pancreas transplant in Minneapolis one month ago, leading to high medical bills that will hopefully be offset by an upcoming benefit, said Jessica Levery, a friend of Brandt's.
The spaghetti feed and silent auction will be held Oct. 2 at the Wahpeton Vets Club and Oct. 3 at the Wahpeton Eagles Club from 5 to 8 p.m. both nights. Karaoke and a DJ will play from 8 p.m. to close both nights.
Brandt, who owns a karaoke business, typically volunteers his work at area benefits. His most recent foray was a Relay for Life event at North Dakota State College of Science.
"He's been living here for about six, seven years," said Levery. "From what I know about him, he's just a giving person."
Brandt has also moved into third-stage kidney failure, has a resistance to insulin and cannot sense the side-effects of low blood sugar, which at some point will be fatal to him, according to a benefit flyer. He will later require a kidney transplant and possibly a kidney donor. The average cost per month of his medication is estimated to be $2,100 to $5,100.
"We just want to keep people aware of donating," said Levery. "Be a donor on your license, because people like Reno who need a transplant really need people to be donors."
A speaker at the benefit will inform participants on transplanting and organ donation.
The silent auction will feature a cookie bouquet from Paquin's Sweet Harmony, a jacuzzi suite pool party at the Select Inn in Breckenridge and other prizes.
Levery said she got involved with the Brandt benefit after her 2-year-old son, Leland, had one in 2007. Leland, then 3 months old, had heart complications at birth and later required open heart surgery.
"I know how important it is when you have stresses in life and have nowhere to turn for those expenses," she said. "If it weren't for people throwing [Leland] a benefit, we wouldn't be able to be where we are today."
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