I’d like to start by saying I’m not one for charity or handouts, and I’m so uncomfortable doing this, but there comes a time when a man must swallow his pride and put his family first. In the last year and a half I’ve lost my mother to cancer , and after being by her side riding shotgun watching her fight I appreciated how strong she was , I knew there was a reason I still feared her !!..lol. I’ve lost one of my younger brothers to an untimely death , which hit me hard because I found him after he’d been dead for quite sometime so that’s a constant reel that keeps playing in my mind!! I’ve became a big brother caregiver and a dad to my three other younger brothers , buts that’s just expected of me , to step up and be their big brother and disciplinarian. In June of last year my youngest son was diagnosed with about 85 percent kidney failure, hopefully we get his transplant before Dialysis is required. This one has hit me really hard , hate seeing my child in pain knowing I’m helpless to do anything, as would any parent. My child is strong and definitely a warrior and I’m so proud of him, to see him fight and not give up !! The doctors and staff at Oishei Children’s Hospital have been amazing and as my child’s kidney functions keep getting worse they keep working hard to help him fight. I have a full time job and try to provide for all of us but just can’t make it, hate that feeling of not being able to provide and be the man that’s expected of me , definitely an emasculating feeling. I put family as my reason for donation because I’m in jeopardy of losing my home and the home of my children and my young brothers. It’s always on my mind the mounting costs and time lost from work due to travel back and forth from here to Pittsburgh once a kidney becomes available. Losing our home is something I can’t afford to have on my mind, losing the safety and security of home isn’t something that any child should have on their mind either. Saving for multiple trips to Pittsburgh including rental cars because our vehicle not reliable, gas, meals, any accommodations that’ll be required will be expensive. If I could raise the funds I need to help with all these costs it would allow me to concentrate on my child’s health. I’ve exhausted all my options and the clock has run out, so now I require the help of friends, family and strangers, hopefully all the good I’ve done in life will make a full circle, and if not I can honestly say I tried. Many friends and family have been telling me for a long time to do this , to start this GoFundMe page, so I’ve decided to take their advice. The goal I set is just a number and it still doesn’t come close to what I need, to be honest I’d be happy with any generosity!!! If you’ve gotten this far in what I’ve written here this morning then all I can say is thank you for reading , stay safe and God bless….