My name is Phil and I've decided to launch this GoFundMe page on behalf of my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Peter and Kristin.
As you may or may not know, my brother-in-law Pete has a genetic kidney disorder called "Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease." Without going into significant medical details, Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) is a genetic condition that causes small cysts to develop in the kidneys causing them to expand and eventually fail.
Unfortunately, no treatment or cure exists for this condition and getting a kidney transplant is the only option that will ensure Pete’s survival.

While Pete has led a healthy and happy life for the past 44 years with my sister-in-law Kristin, and his beautiful girls Madilyn (age 5) and Juliet (age 2), a very harsh reality had befallen them just after Juliet’s birth, when it was discovered that Pete’s condition had rapidly declined and his kidneys would not hold out for longer than the next two years.

Inevitably the time has come and my brother-in-law is now in end stage renal failure. In this regard, Pete has had some great fortune as a family member has courageously offered to donate one of his kidneys. Even though we’ve all known this day was coming, nothing can truly prepare a family to deal with the ramifications of a life event as significant as this. To know now that we’ve arrived at reality’s door is almost hard to comprehend, and while prayers and hope for a speedy recovery are certainly in abundance, the financial impact of this is hard to quantify. All of the planning and saving Kristin and Pete have tried to do on their own can’t possibly prepare them for the financial struggles that lie ahead. The transplant surgery will be taking place at a hospital in New York City, and due to the recovery process and subsequent follow up appointments Pete and Kristin will have to uproot their family and live in the city for several weeks after the operation. Due to the risk of infection Pete won't be able to use mass-transit for traveling and subjecting his body to the long commute from Long Island several days a week is not an option. In addition to Pete, Kristin and the girls needing to temporarily relocate, Pete's relative will also need to remain in New York for roughly 2 weeks while he is recovering from the surgery. The medical expenses coupled with the length of stay required in NYC, travel expenses and both Pete and Kristin being out of work for months due to the surgery and recovery period etc.., the cost is simply staggering.

So now I am prayerfully reaching out to all of you for your support; friends, family, loved ones, colleagues and anyone who is fortunate enough to have received this link and share in this story of hope and recovery with our family. Please join me in helping to make this significant medical event a little more tolerable for Pete and Kristin. If you are fortunate enough to know Pete and Kristin the way I do, you know that whenever there is a need, no matter how big or small, they are the first ones to offer a hand, a prayer, some money or support. They are both the epitome of what it means to truly be selfless and now I'm hoping that you will join me in helping them through what will prove to be an extremely challenging time.
On behalf of Pete, Kristin, Madilyn, Juliet and the entire family, I thank you in advance for your support and prayers. God bless you.