Donate to Steven's Life-Saving Kidney Transplant

Hi, my name is Jennifer and I have been married to Steven for 14 years. We have three children and are a blended family. My husband Steven was diagnosed with a kidney disease, FSGS, at the age of 16. He was blessed that medication was all he needed for a little over twenty years. Around 2019-2020, his kidney function was getting worse, but changing medication and monitoring very closely did the job.

October 2021 changed our lives forever. We got the call Steven was officially in kidney failure and we needed to get to the hospital immediately. I started to cry, freak out, run every scenario in my mind while Steven stayed calm and trusted the Lord would take care of him and us. I immediately had to make phone calls and tell my daycare parents, 'Hey, I have to be off work, not sure how long, but my husband needs me.' I run an in-home daycare and have always been blessed with amazing families.

We went to Kettering hospital, checked in, and were told Steven would have to start dialysis 3 days a week, four-hour sessions. We trusted the Lord will guide, provide, and protect this new way of life. If you know anything about Steven, this was extremely hard for him. Not because he can’t handle it, but because he always worked two or three jobs since we’ve been married. I myself have always run a daycare 5 days a week and have had a second job or other business ventures to provide for our family.

During the last almost 2 years, Steven continued to push through and still work multiple jobs. Finally, with many of us pleading for him to slow down and his body wearing out, about eight months ago he finally decided to take a break. We did our best to prepare and save the past two and a half years, knowing there will be a day he wouldn’t be able to work. I’ve taken on more ways to increase our household income. With raising kids, working full time, managing a household, attending/coaching sports, active in our church, we’ve done our best to manage.

During this time, mid-June, we got the BEST NEWS. Steven's sister was a perfect match and he would receive her kidney. He will be having his transplant on August 13 at OSU. I will be taking a few days off work to care for him. With our income significantly dropping, medical bills continuing to pour in, me having to take time off work, it has impacted us. So, if you would like to help our family and donate, any amount would make a huge impact. With that being said, the most important thing you can do is pray from now through August 13 (surgery day) and beyond everything goes well. Specifically, Steven's body will take the new kidney with no issues, he as well as his sister make a speedy recovery. Thank you for taking the time to read this long story and considering blessing our family.