Help save a good mans life PLEASE!
Donation protected
Father, friend and ex-husband needs your help. (written by his ex-wife; strange, I know…)
My ex-husband needs a kidney. I know...Most times you hear the ex-wife talking about how she wishes bad things would happen to her former spouse. But I don't. Because he's a good guy. And not only that, but he helped me create and raise 3 amazing children. So although you can't donate a kidney through GoFundMe, you can help with a monetary donation, if you are able.
Michael lives with his girlfriend and her children and grandchildren. He is helping to raise them and works really hard to provide for both his families.
He should be home on disability, but he is working because he doesn't want to let people down. He doesn't want to just sit around on dialysis 3 times a week and let the government pay his bills.
But with a disease like Kidney Failure and End Stage Renal Disease, there are so many expenses that are associated with treatment, surgery and recovery. Trips to dialysis 3x a week take him away from work and put a strain on his budget. Gas costs are skyrocketing.
Michael makes trips into NYC to see his medical team, so they can save his life. And although his brother Scott wasn't a match to donate his kidney, the list of friends and family that has lined up, just to be tested is wonderful. But that too costs money. Every trip into the city costs about $100, plus co-pays and other fees. And we all know how bad co-pays are for specialists and testing.
I had breast cancer 6 years ago. I was lucky to survive. I know first-hand how it feels to be diagnosed with something that may kill you. My biggest fear was for my children. They are teenagers now. And they're not done growing up, although they are well on their way to becoming strong, independent young people. They need their Dad. His biggest fear is the same. What will happen to those who love and depend on him if he doesn’t make it. Michael will tell you that losing a parent as a child is a horrible thing to have to go through. He lost his mom when he was 14.. I've seen how that affected him and I will do whatever I can to help prevent that. We need to help him in any way we can.
Patty, his girlfriend, is getting tested to donate her kidney. And we hope that she is a match. You hear people say I'd give my right arm or the shirt off my back all the time. And although Michael doesn't need her right arm, she is HIS right arm. He told me she has been a rock throughout all this. But if she is able to donate, they will both be out of work for a while recovering from surgery. Their stress over what will happen if she can donate, shouldn’t be. It should be a feeling of relief, but they are too worried about money and taking care of their family.
They need your help. Their kids do too.
I guess I just wanted to ask all of our friends and family to donate if you can. And to any people who we don't know, who are moved by this and want to donate. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
I've donated to a few causes through GoFundMe over the years. I know that we all struggle with money. So any help would be wonderful and so very much appreciated.
Here's to hoping that we can give them some help and reduce their burden. Scott asked me if I could help him put a GoFundMe page up. We’re all worried and I figured I could tell Michael’s story. And even though we are no longer together, it’s really important to support those you care about. Michael is not only the father of my children, but he’s my friend. And his life is important to so many of us.
Thanks for listening.
P.S. If you happen to be type O blood, in good health and want to donate a kidney. Send a message, who knows, you could be the very first GoFundMe-inspired kidney donation J
My ex-husband needs a kidney. I know...Most times you hear the ex-wife talking about how she wishes bad things would happen to her former spouse. But I don't. Because he's a good guy. And not only that, but he helped me create and raise 3 amazing children. So although you can't donate a kidney through GoFundMe, you can help with a monetary donation, if you are able.
Michael lives with his girlfriend and her children and grandchildren. He is helping to raise them and works really hard to provide for both his families.
He should be home on disability, but he is working because he doesn't want to let people down. He doesn't want to just sit around on dialysis 3 times a week and let the government pay his bills.
But with a disease like Kidney Failure and End Stage Renal Disease, there are so many expenses that are associated with treatment, surgery and recovery. Trips to dialysis 3x a week take him away from work and put a strain on his budget. Gas costs are skyrocketing.
Michael makes trips into NYC to see his medical team, so they can save his life. And although his brother Scott wasn't a match to donate his kidney, the list of friends and family that has lined up, just to be tested is wonderful. But that too costs money. Every trip into the city costs about $100, plus co-pays and other fees. And we all know how bad co-pays are for specialists and testing.
I had breast cancer 6 years ago. I was lucky to survive. I know first-hand how it feels to be diagnosed with something that may kill you. My biggest fear was for my children. They are teenagers now. And they're not done growing up, although they are well on their way to becoming strong, independent young people. They need their Dad. His biggest fear is the same. What will happen to those who love and depend on him if he doesn’t make it. Michael will tell you that losing a parent as a child is a horrible thing to have to go through. He lost his mom when he was 14.. I've seen how that affected him and I will do whatever I can to help prevent that. We need to help him in any way we can.
Patty, his girlfriend, is getting tested to donate her kidney. And we hope that she is a match. You hear people say I'd give my right arm or the shirt off my back all the time. And although Michael doesn't need her right arm, she is HIS right arm. He told me she has been a rock throughout all this. But if she is able to donate, they will both be out of work for a while recovering from surgery. Their stress over what will happen if she can donate, shouldn’t be. It should be a feeling of relief, but they are too worried about money and taking care of their family.
They need your help. Their kids do too.
I guess I just wanted to ask all of our friends and family to donate if you can. And to any people who we don't know, who are moved by this and want to donate. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
I've donated to a few causes through GoFundMe over the years. I know that we all struggle with money. So any help would be wonderful and so very much appreciated.
Here's to hoping that we can give them some help and reduce their burden. Scott asked me if I could help him put a GoFundMe page up. We’re all worried and I figured I could tell Michael’s story. And even though we are no longer together, it’s really important to support those you care about. Michael is not only the father of my children, but he’s my friend. And his life is important to so many of us.
Thanks for listening.
P.S. If you happen to be type O blood, in good health and want to donate a kidney. Send a message, who knows, you could be the very first GoFundMe-inspired kidney donation J
Organizer and beneficiary
Scott Thomas Russell
Organizer
Westbury, NY
Michael Russell
Beneficiary