Ken's Hope: To Restore and Rebuild His Life

It was January 2016, and Ken Thomas was reading a front-page story about a Burundian mom and her four children, all refugees who had fled their home country where their lives were threatened by political violence. Here in Maine, their unlikely story had begun, their own American dream, hopeful, though in its infancy, and where it nearly ended. A house fire had torn through their East End apartment building; everyone had survived, but all were again displaced, and the family had lost everything. Ken took them into his beloved first-floor Danforth Street residence, while he stayed in an adjacent guest room for months until they could once again find their way, another home, a fresh start.

On January 12th, 2025, nearly nine years to the day of that tragic East End blaze, Ken’s world was turned upside down. A devastating fire tore through that same apartment where he had welcomed that family nearly a decade ago. But as with that family in 2016, the fire took from Ken so much he had worked for years to build, and this on the heels of another life-threatening tragedy. Prior to this, his second three-year stint on dialysis, Ken, blessed with good health following his first transplant, utilized those years, that ‘borrowed time,’ not just to create a house on Danforth Street—but a community, hosting thousands of guests in that time. In that time, he and his beloved Maine Coon cat, Kiska, received rave reviews. But prior to transforming a beautiful historical building in the heart of Downtown Portland into three unique apartments, opening his doors to families, travelers, and those seeking a place to call home, Ken’s life was brought to a halt for years. Devastated by kidney disease, tortuous years on dialysis, loss of career, life savings, the prime years of his life spent in hospital beds—imagine a vibrant young man held hostage to a dialysis machine. The love, care, and creativity he poured into this space made it a safe haven for many; but now as he faces the health battle of his life for a second time, he is also facing the prospect of losing his fire-ravaged home.

But in the blink of an eye, late on a cold Saturday night in January, flames rendered his beautiful creation an uninhabitable catastrophe, killing his two cats, and threatening to extinguish the spirit of a man whose life has been, as the song goes, “sometimes magic, and sometimes tragic,” and is now in major need of a lift, of our help. The fire might have destroyed the structure Ken had so carefully crafted, that he said “was built for love,” but it will not be the last chapter in his remarkable life.

Rebuilding after a fire is overwhelming, both emotionally and financially. Unfortunately, sadly, this is not the only battle Ken is facing. He has found himself, not just fighting for his life on dialysis, but also fighting doctors and our broken healthcare system, in which, though he has a kidney donor, Ken’s life, his wellness, his well-being remain threatened as he is denied a transplant while the healthcare industry, which caused his kidney disease over twenty years ago, profits faster than any other off of his plight. Ken needs to rebuild and rebuild quickly so he can have the means he needs to go wherever he must go in order to get the life-saving care he—all of us, really—deserve. Despite his health struggles, he has remained strong, working tirelessly to continue his life’s work and pursue his dreams. The fire, however, has compounded his challenges in ways that are almost unimaginable—leaving him without a home, without his beloved pets, and without the stability he so desperately needs, while doctors and hospitals continue to ration care to himself and others like him.

Ken needs our help to rebuild his life. Recovering from this loss requires more than just repairing a building—it will take time, financial support, and the kindness of others to help him find stability and hope again. He will need to be strong and stable and supported so he can take the fight for his life to the medical professionals who have the power to murder and to save.

We understand that times are tough for everyone, but even the smallest gesture can make a huge impact. If you can’t donate, sharing this page with others would be just as helpful. Ken has always been there for others—now, it’s our turn to be there for him.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support, kindness, and generosity during this incredibly difficult time. Your help will not only assist him in rebuilding his life but will also give him hope as he continues to fight his health battles and navigate the aftermath of this heartbreaking loss.