Aaron's Kidney Transplant Fund

Dear Friends,

Some of you may know that Aaron has Glomerulonephritis, or Alport Syndrome. This is a genetic disorder that causes inevitable kidney failure. Over time, his kidney function has fallen to the point where his kidneys do not work well enough to keep him alive. This is called end stage kidney failure. The good news is that two months ago, an old friend of the family, “Dave the Donor”, generously volunteered to go through the process of establishing if he could donate his kidney to Aaron and to our great relief he was found to be a match. He and Aaron are pursuing the procedure to take place at the end of this year.

Recovery from a transplant operation will take between three and six months. During this time, Aaron will be unable to work and will need assistance caring for himself. Recovery from a transplant surgery requires major life changes in order to keep him safe and healthy. While difficult, this is the best case scenario because his other option is dialysis, which is truthfully a stop-gap measure that would also prohibit Aaron from leading any kind of normal life. Thankfully, after a transplant surgery and the long path to recovery, Aaron’s life will be one free from debilitating medical procedures.

Many of you know Aaron from either his work in hospitality or through his Aikido practice. Aaron is an extremely generous host, and when he feeds you, you know that you’re going to have an excellent meal, whether it’s an intimate dinner with friends or a tasting menu at a restaurant. He dedicates himself to creating a whole atmosphere with his food and will stop at no lengths to ensure that the person eating his food has a warm, comfortable, and delicious experience. Similarly, his commitment to his Aikido practice, an art he started twenty years ago and has been devoted to ever since, is serious and profound. Anyone who has trained with Aaron or has experienced his hospitality can see that he puts 100% into what he is doing.

We want Aaron to be able to continue living a rich life. We want to share meals with him and train with him and enjoy his company as our friend. To this end, we are asking you today to donate what you can to ensure that his recovery process is as comfortable and smooth as possible. If you are able to donate, we are entirely grateful. If you aren't, please share this campaign as widely as you can. Any exposure is an enormous help.

We are asking for patience with Aaron’s limited ability to dedicate to communication during this time, as he will be preparing for surgery and has a lot on his plate.

These are some of the things that the money will go toward:

Thank you!