Anthony Daniels has an active life as husband, father and businessman, and as minority leader in the Alabama House of Representatives.

The start of the legislative session in February is a busy time in his political role.

But this year, the 42-year-old Democratic lawmaker from Huntsville could not maintain his normal pace.

“I was just kind of feeling fatigued on the night of the governor’s State of the State,” Daniels said. “And I thought maybe it was because I was not sleeping a whole lot.”

By the end of that first week in February, Daniels was in the hospital trying to adjust to the shock of learning that his kidneys were failing and that he would need life-saving dialysis and, eventually, a transplant.

What he would also learn was that his wife and mother of their son and daughter was prepared for the crisis.

Teneshia Daniels, who is a dentist, was already making plans to donate a life-saving kidney, Daniels said.

“There was a lot of unknowns,” Daniels said. “But she was insistent upon her being my donor and getting this process behind us.

“God knew the plan before I did and he had it in place.”

Doctors at UAB performed the transplant. Daniels and his wife have been released from the hospital and are recovering.

Daniels said he feels great but has pain.

“I forced myself to walk the next day because I wanted to see my wife in her room,” Daniels said.

“I was able to get out of the hospital ahead of schedule because I started pushing myself.”

He is coping without prescription pain pills because of the side effects they cause.

It hurts to move as he heals from incisions on both sides of his abdomen – one for the new kidney, and one where doctors removed a catheter that was being used for dialysis.

“You’ve just got to keep moving. I’m walking more. And forcing myself to walk more every day,” Daniels said.

Daniels said Teneshia is doing pretty well but is having more pain than him as a result of the surgery.

There has been an outpour of support for Daniels that transcends political divisions.

Alabama’s Republican House Speaker, Nathaniel Ledbetter, and Daniels are on opposing sides of the political aisle but are friends.

Both rose to leadership positions soon after they were elected to the House in 2014.

House Democrats chose Daniels as minority leader in 2017 and reelected him to the position in 2022 a few days after Republicans nominated Ledbetter for speaker.

During the legislative session, which ended in May, Ledbetter sometimes called for prayers for Daniels without saying much about his condition, because he said it was Daniels’ news to disclose.

“Certainly his wife being a donor is a big deal,” Ledbetter said.

“I think that this shows the passion that they have for each other. And of course it’s commendable for her.”

Ledbetter said he and his wife Teresa pray for the Daniels family every night.

“I think the power of prayer works. And maybe they’re on the downhill slide of this thing. But it’s been a tough year for him,” Ledbetter said.

Daniels said he has always been vigilant about his health, getting regular checkups, exercising, and trying to stick with a healthy diet.

He said there was never a previous indication of a kidney problem.

His crisis, Daniels said, shows the importance of staying on top of any health issues.

“You have to look at all the numbers,” Daniels said. “You have to question every number just to make certain that you are where you need to be.

“Don’t let anything to sneak up on you because you don’t know how aggressive it can become. And you can’t look at a person and tell how healthy they are because you don’t know.”

Daniels said he has had COVID four times, and wonders if that might be a factor in how fast the kidney failure advanced.

Daniels said he is grateful for the help he has received throughout the crisis – the medical care, support from the Huntsville community, and prayers from across the state.

“UAB did a tremendous job,” Daniels said. “The kidney transplant team was amazing,” Daniels said.

“Things like this will test your faith and your love. But I’m just very blessed to have strength in both areas,” Daniels said.

“My wife is the real hero here. Because she had to take time away from her job to do all this to make sure that I’m taken care of. And I’m able to continue to be a dad and a father and a husband.

“I don’t even have to ask her anything, to be honest with you. It was already done.”

Daniels said he hopes to help educate people about the challenges faced by people awaiting kidney transplants and the enormous need.

He said he hopes Teneshia’s selfless example helps some who might be trying to decide whether to donate a kidney to a friend or family member.

“Being able to see selflessness displayed should be inspiring to them. And that’s what I hope,” Daniels said.

“Because I don’t know how long I would have been around had I not had my wife taking the steps that she has taken to make this happen.

“And I’m extremely grateful.”