It takes a village — and a kidney.
Those are the words of Jennie Kanonu, describing life as she has known it over the past six months.
Her husband, Aleke Kanonu, is a postal worker in the community of Branch. Residents know him as a dedicated public servant with a constant smile. What they may not know is that since 2019, he has faced one challenge after another.
That year, Aleke stepped on a nail. The injury led to repeated infections, multiple surgeries and failed treatments, ultimately resulting in a below-the-knee amputation and the use of a prosthetic limb. Despite that, he continued working each day while battling worsening kidney failure. His wife said the condition required nightly dialysis that became more intense over time.
Doctors told the family a kidney transplant could take five to seven years. For Jennie, that was not an option…