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Sunny skies. High 64F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph..
Clear to partly cloudy. Low around 35F. Winds light and variable.
Updated: October 29, 2022 @ 12:59 am
Courtesy of Ryan Neve
Daniella Neve, 10, poses with her dad, Ryan Neve. Daniella posted TikTok videos to help her dad get a kidney. Surgery is scheduled for Jan. 5.
Courtesy of Ryan Neve
Ryan Neve of South Fayette with his family: wife Jackie, son Robert and daughter Daniella
Courtesy of Ryan Neve
Daniella Neve, 10, poses with her dad, Ryan Neve. Daniella posted TikTok videos to help her dad get a kidney. Surgery is scheduled for Jan. 5.
Courtesy of Ryan Neve
Ryan Neve of South Fayette with his family: wife Jackie, son Robert and daughter Daniella
Daniella Neve knew her dad needed a kidney and wanted to help him get one.
So, the 10-year-old from South Fayette did what youngsters do these days: She made a TikTok video, seeking the vital organ for her father, Ryan Neve.
Mission accomplished.
Neve is scheduled for kidney transplant surgery Jan. 5 at UPMC Presbyterian Montefiore Hospital.
“For about the past five months, I’ve been posting videos about my dad and that’s how I got really popular on TikTok,” Daniella said. “I think someone is really generous or really kind (to donate). My dad has been giving all of his life and now he actually needs something.”
Ryan Neve, 45, said he started feeling fatigued around March and April of 2021 and wondered what was wrong.
“It was really hard to do anything,” he recalled. “I was going up and down stairs thinking, am I really getting this out of shape?”
A trip to the hospital for the married father of two revealed kidney failure. His kidneys have only about 4% function and a kidney transplant is needed.
Up stepped Daniella, who already is a TikTok sensation. “The amazing shortstop with the beautiful swing,” as she is called on the Legacy and Legends softball page, has seen her softball videos amass 5 million likes and 97,000 followers.
The fifth-grader at South Fayette Intermediate School wanted to do something after seeing some of her teammates spending time with their fathers during a tournament in Florida.
“All the other kids were playing with their dads,” Daniella said. “In the back of my mind, it was just hurting me so much that he couldn’t be there, so I decided to make bracelets and put up a couple of my TikTok videos to help my dad get a kidney.”
One video shows Daniella and Ryan holding a sign that reads, “My daddy needs a kidney,” and talking about the situation.
On the video Ryan asks Daniella how quickly a donor would be found. Her response: “Soon.” It appears she was right.
There’s also another video featuring the baseball team of Daniella’s brother, Robert, or R.J., as he is called, which sports a sign, “My coach needs a kidney.”
Each video received more than 100,000 views.
Ryan Neve said he feels good and is taking measures to get ready for the surgery, such as a better diet, resting as much as he can and four-hour dialysis treatments three days a week.
“I know this is necessary treatment to be able to make me live,” he said. “I’m kind of making the best of it. I’m in prep mode. I want to get in the best shape as possible, so the recovery is easier. There is some nervous anticipation in there, but more excitement than anything.”
Obviously, Neve is touched by what his daughter has done for him.
“I’m just blown away,” he said. “She’s 10. She should be out playing in the yard or playing with dolls. She jumps into action because she sees what she can do with her following. I would never expect to see that maturity from her at a young age. As soon as she found out, she hasn’t left my side. She’s doing everything in her power to make this happen. She gives me the strength to get through every day.”
Daniella admitted she will feel relieved and excited once the surgery takes place.
Neve said the identity of the donor is unknown. He doesn’t believe the hospital is permitted to reveal that because of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations.
“I’ve asked a bunch of times because I want to thank the person,” Neve said. “I’m not sure if it’s a Good Samaritan that wants to be anonymous or if they’ll let me know.”
If Neve ever does get the chance to talk to the donor, what will he say?
“That’s the ultimate selfless act,” Neve said. “I don’t know if all of us could say that we would be able to do that for someone. For someone to put their own health and life at risk to save another, thank you is not enough.”
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