Help My Brother Jamie Fight for His Life

Life has a way of testing us in ways we never expected. For me, that test came when my younger brother, Jamie, was diagnosed with kidney disease. Over the last three years, I’ve watched the strongest, most full-of-life person I know fight a battle no one should ever have to face.

Today, Jamie is in end-stage kidney failure. He’s a husband, a father of three, and the heartbeat of our family. He has always been the one we all looked to for laughter, energy, and support. Now, he’s the one who needs us — and I’m reaching out on his behalf to ask for your help.

Who Jamie Is

Jamie has always been more than just my little brother. He’s been a friend, a confidant, and the kind of person you can always count on. If you know him, you know what I mean: he gives the kind of warm hugs that instantly make you feel safe, he has a laugh that fills a room, and he loves nothing more than gathering people together around food he’s cooked with his own hands. Cooking has always been one of his passions — feeding people is his way of showing love.

He married his high school sweetheart, Crickette, and together they’ve built a beautiful life and family. Their three kids — Nate, Logan, and Maddie — aren’t little anymore. They’re young adults now, but they still lean on their dad for advice, encouragement, and guidance. To them, he’s a role model, the steady hand they look to when life gets overwhelming. To everyone else in the neighborhood, he’s long been like a second dad — someone who makes time for others and leaves people better than he found them.

Jamie is also a man of faith. His Christian walk has guided him through the highs and lows of life, and it continues to give him strength in this fight. His faith, combined with his determination and the love he pours into his family, is why we know his story isn’t finished yet.

The Journey He Didn’t Choose

Three years ago, when doctors first said “chronic kidney disease,” it shook us. But Jamie, being Jamie, faced it with courage and hope. He changed his lifestyle, kept up with endless appointments, took medications — anything that might slow the disease.

But despite his efforts, his kidneys failed. This past year, he started dialysis, and his very first treatment fell on his birthday. What was supposed to be the beginning of a new chapter in his care turned into our worst nightmare. During the treatment, Jamie had a severe reaction. His heart stopped. For a brief moment, we lost him.

By the grace of God, he came back. That day showed us just how fragile this disease makes life — and how much of a miracle Jamie truly is. But it also made it clear: dialysis is not a good long-term solution. The only path forward is a kidney transplant.

Why I’m Asking for Help

Jamie would never ask for help himself. He’s too focused on giving to others, too determined to provide for his family. But as his older brother, I can’t sit back and watch him carry this burden alone.

The truth is, the costs are overwhelming. Even with insurance, dialysis sessions, hospital stays, medications, and supplements add up quickly. Jamie still works when he can, and Crickette continues to work as well — but the financial strain of preparing for a transplant on top of ongoing care is more than any family can shoulder alone.

That’s why I started this GoFundMe.

What Your Donation Will Do

Your support will help cover:

Dialysis and treatments not fully covered by insurance

Specialized medications and supplements to support Jamie’s health

Medical expenses related to preparing for a kidney transplant, including testing, surgery, and recovery care

Day-to-day costs that pile up when both Jamie and Crickette are stretched thin between work, treatments, and keeping their household afloat

Every donation — big or small — helps give Jamie more time with the people who love him most: Crickette, Nate, Logan, Maddie, and the rest of us who can’t imagine life without him.

What’s at Stake

Jamie isn’t just my brother. He’s a husband, a father, a Christian man whose faith and kindness have impacted countless lives. To his kids, it’s the difference between having their dad at graduations, weddings, and milestones — or facing those moments without him. To Crickette, it’s the chance to grow old with the man she’s loved since high school. To me, it’s the gift of more years of brotherhood, laughter, warm hugs, and memories.

We’re not ready to let him go. And with your help, we don’t have to.

How You Can Help

Donate — Every dollar makes a difference.

Share — Please share Jamie’s story so it can reach others who may be able to help.

Pray & Encourage — Your prayers and encouragement mean more than we can ever express.

From My Heart

As his brother, I can tell you: Jamie is worth every ounce of fight we can give him. He has always given his best to others — now it’s our turn to give back to him.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank you for donating, for sharing, for praying, and for standing with us. Together, we can give Jamie the chance to keep writing his story.

❤ Keith (Jamie’s big brother)