Hello everyone! My name is Catherine Currington. My husband Clinton and I are starting a GoFundMe for Marco Rodriguez and Nicole Broadwell to help them reduce some financial challenges they face as they prepare for pre & post kidney transplant surgery!

Surgery is scheduled for early January 2023, and with such a major procedure, comes a longer recovery time, and we want them to be able to focus on their health and healing. As you can imagine, this will be an enormous financial strain for both families so we are hoping to raise funds to help cover expected and unexpected expenses, including medical bills, gas to and from Seattle for the surgery, multiple follow-up appointments, food, and to support any lost or decreased wages during this time. We would not ask for your help for just anybody. As a school teacher and youth football coach, these two are selfless and amazing public servants shaping the character of our children. They are giving contributors to society that can really use your support at this time.

Our connection: Clint & I met Marco, Nicole and their families in April when Camden joined Marco's flag football team and played alongside their kiddos Alexis & Malakai. Fast forward eight months and our little football family has grown into a small village supporting one another and creating lasting memories. We are thankful and blessed to be surrounded by a beautiful group of people in our lives, and we appreciate you taking the time to read their stories and help them where you can.

Hello! My name is Janett Rodriguez, and I’m Marco’s wife of 14 years. Thank you for taking the time to read our story and consider donating to our cause.

Marco is 33 years old. He is a husband, a son, a brother and an uncle, but most importantly, he is the father to our 7-year-old daughter, Alexis. He was diagnosed with stage 4 kidney failure and a rare hereditary kidney disease in 2019, and over the last couple of years, his health has declined further. He battles painful symptoms constantly, swelling and mobility constraints, low energy, and vision loss impacting his daily activities and the ability to work consistently to provide for our family. Between the long list of medications, endless doctor appointments and constant lab work, this has become essential and the new normal. However, hospital visits are still unavoidable, and medical bills continue to pile up. Marco has fought hard and battled this ugly disease privately, especially for the sake of our daughter. Still, regardless of the situation, he continues to remain positive and strong for our family. Unfortunately, now Marco is being faced with the reality of the disease and in order for him to survive and live a long healthy life, he would need to receive a kidney transplant. Through many tough days and nights praying for a miracle, praying for continuous strength, God answered. Marco also coaches our daughters flag football team and has managed to do so for nearly 2 years. At first football was a distraction for him and our daughter, a distraction from what we were facing at home but it was also football where we met our angel, Nicole and her son Malakai. The connection was immediate and we now understand why. After several months of friendship Nicole learned of Marco’s disease, and she selflessly offered to help and began going through extensive testing in hopes of being able to help in any way. After many months of going through the possible donor process, Nicole surprised us, she was a MATCH for Marco. It was a Miracle!! The odds of Nicole being a match for Marco was very slim but we truly believe that God brought our families together for this reason. God puts people in your life at strategic times, because He knows what we need. It is by purpose, not by chance. We will forever be grateful to our dear friend & Marco’s kidney buddy, our sister, Nicole, for this selfless act. Marco was 1 in 70,000 waiting for a transplant but now in early January 2023 surgery is scheduled and with each donation, Marco will be much closer to living a fuller and more enjoyable life.

Hello! My name is Nicole Broadwell. I met Marco and Janett in the summer of 2021 when my son, Malakai, was randomly placed on the same Gridiron flag football team as their daughter Alexis. We have been blessed over the last year and a half to keep Malakai and Alexis on the same team together and even more blessed that Marco took on the role as the head coach for their team. During this time Janett and I began spending a lot of time together at practices and games and building a close friendship. In May 2022, a conversation took place between Janett and I that, little did we know, would change our lives forever. As we sat in our folding chairs watching practice, Janett shared with me that Marco was diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney failure in 2019, and that his condition is steadily getting worse. I remember just sitting there listening to Janett speak with a horrible knot in my stomach thinking, “how could this be? Marco is so young.” Janett didn’t share this with me for sympathy or in hopes that I would be able to miraculously help find a donor for them. She shared this with me because she was scared. She was tired of having to be the strong one and being forced to go through this journey alone with no one to lean on. She shared this with me because she just needed a friend to talk to. After practice that night as I was driving home, I looked in the rear- view mirror and saw my 5-year-old sitting in the backseat and I thought to myself, “if I had kidney failure, I hope that someone would step up for me to ensure that my son does not lose a parent at such a young age.” It was at that moment that I knew I was the person to “step up,” for Marco, (and for Alexis and for Janett). The next morning, I texted Janett and asked for the information to see if I could be a kidney donor for Marco. And after that the rest is history. Between May 2022- September 2022 I went through the donor process (all without Marco knowing, because we didn’t want to get his hopes up if I happened to not be a match). The evaluation process consisted of multiple appointments and tests including: 24-hour urine tests, blood draws, tissue matching, x- rays, CT scans, physicals, mental/emotional evaluations, nutrition appointments and meetings with the surgeons to ensure that I am not only healthy enough to be a donor but to also live a normal life after the surgery. Well, on September 21st 2022, I got the long-awaited call that our case was presented to the medical board that morning and it was approved!! I immediately started crying and thanking God that this is our reality now. That very night after football practice I got to surprise Marco and Janett with the best news ever: I AM Marco’s perfect kidney match and we are ready to do this thing!!

Thank you again for taking the time to read about our story. This has been a trying and tiring journey, and we realize we still have more difficult steps ahead. We appreciate each and every one of you!

Please help, share and spread the word. We will forever be grateful!

Thank you from our family to yours! -Marco, Janett & Alexis, Nicole & Malakai