Two Profound Losses in Our IROC Community

Dear Friends, 

With a heavy heart and a deep sense of loss, I’m writing to let you know of two tragic losses affecting beloved IROC families this week. 

On Thursday, October 23, Corey (formerly known to many as Addie), the 18-year-old son of our dear friends Diana and Derek Streat, passed away in his home in Seattle, Washington. On Saturday, October 25, our dear friend, mentor, and role model, Jens Goebel, passed away due to complications from a major heart attack suffered at home last weekend.

Corey Streat courageously overcame tremendous adversity in his young life, including the many challenges that come from living with a kidney transplant while navigating life as an adolescent and young adult. He had successfully completed his junior year of high school and spent the last several months exploring colleges with his parents while preparing to share his experience with a kidney transplant at the upcoming IROC Learning Session in November. Diana and Derek Streat have been tireless advocates for him throughout his life and have given of themselves selflessly for the benefit of so many others with kidney transplantation through their support of IROC, Seattle Children’s, and other causes. They have been an inspiration and example to each of us.

For those of us who knew Jens, his presence in our lives is irreplaceable. His endless enthusiasm to face any adversity with indomitable optimism will be his legacy and his way of helping us cope with this loss. I was fortunate to spend some time with his wife, Denise, some family and friends, and the whole Helen Devos nephrology and transplant team this week, and was humbled by her gratitude for the medical and surgical teams who cared for Jens and for the expressions of love and solidarity from so many of you. They, knowing how much the miracle of transplantation meant to Jens, enabled him on Sunday to pass on the gift of life to others through organ and tissue donation.

Our hearts go out to Derek, Diana, and Austin Streat, and Denise, Alex, and Katie Goebel, as we hope they will find comfort in each other, their loved ones, and their friends in this and other communities. I personally am grateful for so many in our community who have reached out with goodwill, love, and support. In the coming days, we will keep you posted with information about services and ways to support these families. We will let the legacy of Corey Streat and Jens Goebel live on by serving children and young adults with kidney disease to our utmost abilities and by lifting each other along the way.

Sincerely,

David Hooper

Principal Investigator, Improving Renal Outcomes Collaborative

To learn more about Jens’ life and legacy, please visit https://www.metcalfandjonkhoff.com/obituary/DrJens-Goebel.