Rep. Dill to have kidney transplant surgery

State Rep. David Dill who has been coping with kidney disease since 1966 will be entering Hennepin County Medical Center tomorrow, Oct. 12, for a kidney transplant. Dill, 55, has had weight-related diabetes for years and underwent gastric bypass surgery two years ago, subsequently losing 150 pounds.
 

The District 6A DFLer from Crane Lake, is running for his fifth straight term in the House and is being challenged by Republican Jim Tuomala of Babbitt. Cook County is included in District 6A.
 

Dill is expected to be hospitalized for five days and full recovery will take about a month. He said he will not personally be taking calls during that time. His office staff will field calls from constituents during his absence.
 

Dill’s longtime friend Brian Bruns, reportedly agreed to provide Dill with a kidney. Only one donated kidney is needed to replace two failed kidneys.

Hennepin County Medical Center's kidney transplant program was one of the first transplant programs in the upper Midwest and currently performs about 80 kidney transplants annually.