Overview

My Quiet War: How a Leader, a Family, and a Miracle Donor Gave Me a Second Life is a powerful memoir of resilience, faith, and survival. When Dr. Daniel O'Connell heard the words ""You have Polycystic Kidney Disease"" in 2007, his life changed forever. What followed was a seventeen-year journey through the relentless progression of PKD, one marked by leadership under pressure, devotion to family, and the quiet, ever-present fear of time running out. From his service as a U.S. Navy Corpsman to his career as a technology executive and educator, Daniel's story becomes a testament to discipline, perseverance, and the enduring human spirit. This is not a battle fought in public view, but a war waged silently, through lab results and spreadsheets, sleepless nights, whispered prayers, and moments of resolve forged far from the spotlight. This deeply personal narrative takes readers inside the hidden realities of chronic illness, revealing what it means to keep leading, teaching, and serving while facing physical decline. At its heart is the extraordinary act that changed everything: a living kidney donor who stepped forward when the odds seemed impossible, offering not just an organ, but a second chance at life. More than a memoir, My Quiet War is a guide for anyone facing adversity, a source of hope for patients and caregivers, and an inspiration for leaders striving to lead with courage, compassion, and humility. With forewords from a nephrologist, a kidney donor, and a Navy colleague, the book offers a rare blend of medical perspective, personal testimony, and leadership insight. Whether you are living with PKD or CKD, supporting a loved one through illness, or simply searching for a story of perseverance and purpose, this book will resonate deeply. It reminds us that resilience is not the absence of fear; it is the decision to keep moving forward when fear demands that you stop.

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9798994099308

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Reviews

From the Foreword by Dr. Sue Chang, MD: ""This book is more than a memoir. It's a blueprint for hope. For patients, this is a guide. For caregivers, this is understanding. For clinicians, this is perspective."" From Ryan Long (Kidney Donor): ""If warrior spirituality is real, Dan embodies it. His story is a testament to faith, resilience, and purpose.""

Author Information

Dr. Daniel O'Connell is a Navy veteran, pilot, technology executive, educator, and kidney transplant recipient. Over a career spanning more than 25 years, he has held senior leadership roles across enterprise technology, higher education, and public service, while also serving as an adjunct faculty member teaching analytics, technology, and leadership.Diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease at the height of his professional life, O'Connell quietly balanced chronic illness, demanding leadership responsibilities, military service, and family life for nearly two decades before receiving a life-saving kidney transplant from a living donor. His experiences shaped a deeply personal understanding of resilience, faith, discipline, and endurance forged outside of public view.My Quiet War is his first memoir and reflects his commitment to honest storytelling, service, and the unseen strength required to persevere through prolonged adversity. O'Connell is also the founder of DocLogical, and continues to write, teach, and advocate for ethical leadership, service, and compassion in both professional and personal life.He lives in Connecticut with his family.

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