How One SYNERGY Franchise Owner Changed a Life

Dan Armstead has lived a normal life for the majority of his time on this planet. In fact, he’s quick to frequently remind you he is an “average Joe.”

But that’s not actually true. Last year, Armstead saved the life of 16-year-old Gabrielle Culberson—by donating his own kidney.

Armstead, who owns a SYNERGY HomeCare franchise in Georgia, said he got into homecare because he wanted to help families who needed help caring for people at home.

“My wife’s family members in the area were in rough shape—Alzheimer’s, dementia or physical disabilities—and we were constantly looking for help for them,” he said. “We couldn’t find satisfactory help, and we really struggled with that. I was at a point in my career where I was wanting to do something different, and eventually homecare came across my desk. I loved the idea and thought we could do better for the area. I ended up researching and finding SYNERGY HomeCare.”

That was 15 years ago, and his SYNERGY location is still going strong.

Armstead made the same kind of quick decision when it came to organ donation. After hearing of a young man in his neighborhood who needed a kidney, Armstead signed up for the donor list on the Emory University Hospital Transplant Center website.

He put himself down as an anonymous donor, but life doesn’t always work out that way. Just two days after being told he was a great candidate, he learned that someone he knew needed a kidney. Culberson had been battling kidney disease since she was 6 years old. According to Armstead, her disease was so advanced both of her kidneys had been removed, leaving her on daily dialysis. Culberson’s mother posted on Facebook saying that her daughter desperately needed a kidney. Armstead reached out and asked her what Gabrielle’s blood type was.

After going through the proper channels, it was determined Armstead was a perfect match. Several months went by, both Armstead and Culberson preparing themselves for the surgery that would change their lives forever.

It has been a year since the surgery, and Armstead said Culberson is “flourishing”—healthy and recovered. Their families are united through their medical bond, and Armstead said he is incredibly grateful to have been able to help the Culbersons.

“I’m looking at a life that was saved due to this whole process, and I fully give credit to modern medicine and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory Healthcare and all of the people who did all of the hard work,” he said. “It’s just so amazing the impact of just one domino falling over, it’s still growing. It’s been a year later and it’s still growing.”

When asked if he had any advice for people thinking of becoming a donor, Armstead, once again, insisted he’s a normal everyday guy.

“I’m just your average Joe—I have a wonderful wife, I have four wonderful kids, a minivan and a mortgage … A regular person can go get evaluated to be an organ donor,” he said. “A regular Joe went through this and it’s made an impact on someone else, and it’s hard to put that into perspective. I still don’t know if I fully grasp it.”