I am William Lauria, born and raised in Toms River, NJ. I grew up with this man, Frankie Fernicola, who's had a lifetime of medical struggles related to kidney disease. If you know about kidney disease, you know the struggle of having to get dialysis and the financial cost of survival. He is a warrior and survivor. His goal has always been to see his firstborn son become a man and reach the age of 18. He got himself on the transplant list back in 2020 without any luck for 3 years until one day, he gets a call saying you are a possible candidate and to be ready only to be let down. Fast forward, his medical bills piled up and he was kicked off the list. He saved and saved and worked and saved. He finally was able to pay off what seemed an impossible over 10k in medical bills, so he got back on the list!

2 weeks ago, around Sept 15th, 2025, he gets the call, "Go to Livingston Now." Him and his family rushed to the hospital and just as they were going to prep him for surgery, they brought him to the dialysis room to get treatment and break the news that there was fatty tissue around the pancreas and neither the kidney nor pancreas could be transplanted. A grown man came home in tears. I remember him calling me each time there was an inkling of hope and this was it. I prayed and prayed.

2 weeks went by and now he got the call again! The surgery took place in the morning of October 1st. It was a success, but we still have not a clue if his body will accept these organs. In the meantime, his family is living at the hospital and his beautiful wife and two sons could use all of our support! It will be 4 weeks before disability kicks in and that won't be enough anyway. I ask anyone and everyone to give just what they can. Skip the takeout today and please donate.