Tyrone’s Kidney Transplant and Cancer Journey

I need your help. I am a strong individual, and I possess a lot of pride, sometimes to a fault. But the situation I find myself in now is considerably bigger than I, and there is simply no room for pride.

I’ve survived many tough challenges in this complicated life of mine, but chief among those challenges have been the unexpected health issues… some of which you may already be aware. Back in 2015, I went from being a thriving, health-conscious, self-sufficient individual to suddenly being plagued with a series of successive health problems that have spanned the last 10 years… and as strong as I normally am in spirit, I’m now admittedly exhausted.

Before any of my challenges started, I was that professional guy - a music executive in New York City, full of life and fully able to support myself… as well as helping others, being a cheerful giver by nature. I always took pride in my health, so after I’d finish “making donuts” at the office, I’d hit the lights, close the door, and faithfully head to the gym. It was always my goal for body to match mind and spirit. “Strength across the board” was my mantra.

But "real life” disagreed with that mantra for me.

Despite my earnest efforts to maintain good health, I experienced the silent onset of high blood pressure (family history driven), which set off a chain reaction of kidney damage and, ultimately, failure. This led to the need for a kidney transplant. I couldn’t believe that I went from the able-bodied man I was to being on a kidney transplant list and having to leave NYC for Florida due to not being able to work anymore. Not to mention that throughout the process of being treated for the kidney disease, a complication with the removal of surgical tubing left me with windpipe scarring and the need for a tracheostomy tube.

But I took it all like a champ, relocating to be near my family, patiently enduring dialysis while awaiting a kidney donor match, and awaiting my airway to open up enough for the removal of the trach tube. I eventually found a viable donor and - with the help of some of your donations - had a successful transplant over a year later. And I was able to get rid of the trach around the same time. I felt like a shadow of my former self at that point - physically and financially, but I was just thankful to be restored enough to see some daylight and finally start rebuilding my life.

I then moved from Florida to Los Angeles, driven and determined to optimize my health and get a fresh start… but hardship struck, AGAIN.

I was on a strict regimen of medications and doctor’s visits in LA to ensure I maintained my new kidney, but during the course of routine checkups, I had some lab work return concerning results. And long story short, cancer, yes, cancer, had developed in my colon, and I found myself in need of radiation and chemotherapy to treat it. The residual strength I was able to muster up after enduring what I had already come through with the transplant and trach was yet again being called upon and tested to get me through the cancer treatment… and it was one of the hardest months of my life. The chemo and the radiation together left me with very little strength… but I fortunately had supportive friends and family who propped me up enough to complete the treatments and live to fight yet another day.

The cancer went into remission, but “life” wasn’t through with me yet.

The stress on my body - and no doubt my mind - from fighting the cancer compromised the function of my transplanted kidney, which I first began to feel during a trip back to Florida to see my family during the holidays. While here (I'm in Florida now), my health began to rapidly decline, and I now find myself hospitalized, having been on life support due to my body rejecting the kidney. I've now had a nephrectomy (removal of the defunct kidney) and I’m being put BACK on the list for yet another kidney transplant - IF I can meet all the requirements.

But without your assistance, I simply cannot.

As before, I must be able to demonstrate a certain financial ability to be added to the kidney donor list. But not having been able to get any financial traction before this latest onslaught of challenges leaves me unable to do so… and being added or not is literally a matter of life or death. So, I’m asking for donations - big or small - to help me get over this latest setback and get back to the business of living my life. The fact that I’m still here after all I’ve been through convinces me there's yet a reason for me to be, and I hope you all agree by clicking the link and donating.

So yes, I am… well, under normal circumstances, strong, but this round of the testing of my resolve finds me, honestly, having reached the absolute end of myself. And with that, I must - again - suspend my pride, and humbly ask for your help, if there be any room in your heart to do so.

Gratitude and love to you all for what you've already done and in advance for anything you'll do now to help.

Humbly submitted,

Tyrone Vincent Murray