A father's recovery after receiving son's kidney: Help with Obligations while recovering.

Looking back I was often seen as the one with the golden ticket. I worked hard at my craft as a student athlete and was expected to be drafted in the NFL. However when that didn’t happen it was a difficult pill to swallow. I was not prepared, I kept all the feelings of failure, disappointment, uncertainty, and anxiety bottled up within. Physically I was able to plow through life not knowing the internal havoc it caused within my body and the onset of my illness.

There is not one way to explain my life living with chronic kidney disease. I have been an avid and active athlete who thrived on body conditioning. However I didn’t realize that what was unraveling inside of my body beginning with diabetes diagnosed 25 years ago (1989), several amputations beginning with toes, half foot and then below the right knee (2003-2018), quadruple heart bypass (2023). Looking back I wonder what I did wrong as I was a trained athlete, took care of my body and was aware of nutrients. However, I realize the one thing I was not equipped to work with is dealing with mental anguish and stress. I thought that when things got tough you buckled down and grind through it and I did. However, physically things were not getting any better, I began peritoneal dialysis 10 hours each night for 2 years however eventually began hemodialysis approximately 3 years ago, four hours 3 times weekly. I was placed on the kidney transplant wait list in 2021.

In February 2026, my son had a severe asthma attack resulting in his death. Because he was a donor I was one of the recipients who received one of his organs, his kidney on February 4, 2026. The complexity of this gift is concerning, I would trade places with my son in a heartbeat. No parent wants to outlive their child. However, this is a tragedy that some of us have faced. And, I know now that to honor my son I must find ways to reduce stress and let my body heal. I will be under medical care for 4 months and will not be able to work as a teacher. This GoFundMe will allow me to take care of some of my basic living expenses, having a safe and stable living environment, and out of pocket medical expenses as well as allowing me to recover without risking my health and protecting my son’s beautiful and unselfish gift- a living legacy of love, his kidney. I know I can’t do this alone and I am in need of help.

Your support and generosity is greatly appreciated.