Hi everyone. I am Gary Faagau. Those who know me would say I am fiercely independent and I never ask for help. Instead, I am one who tries to help when I can and never ask anything in return. In 2021, I caught the Covid virus. Because I had diabetes and high blood pressure, the three inflictions teamed up and I went from normal healthy kidneys to stage 5 kidney failure. What that means is my kidneys are irreversibly damaged and are now in their final stage.

I am currently on dialysis and it is going well. I do have fatigue from time to time, but dialysis removes toxins from my body that the damaged kidneys can’t remove. But dialysis has its limit. Statistically, only 12% of those who start dialysis live more than 10 years without a kidney transplant. The good news is that I am on the transplant list and am considered an excellent candidate for a transplant. However, the typical wait is 6-8 years to receive a transplant from a deceased donor. I know this funding is meant to contribute money, but my first request is for everyone to consider being a live kidney donor. The expense for the donor will be covered by my medical insurance. If you get tested and we match, your kidney could give me 20+ years (a deceased kidney is good for 10 years). Even if we don’t match, your kidney will provide someone with a longer and better life. If that is too much to ask, please consider organ donation when you pass away.

For me, a transplant will cost somewhere between $50,000 and $100,000. My savings have dwindled with visits to the ICU, dialysis, several operations, and the obsession of doctors wanting X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans. So I am starting this fund to help me raise money to help. Small donations and words of encouragement are appreciated.