Kent's Heart Transplant

Reaching out to family, friends and friends of friends to help our brother Kent and his family get through the biggest fight for his life... 

For those that don't know the story, Kent has been fighting and dealing with some very serious heart issues for more then 20 years now.   He has had 2 heart valve replacements, first a pig valve which lasted almost 12 years.  He then had that valve replaced with a mechanical valve but has continued to deal with coronary heart failure.   I've always known his situation was very serious.   Kent and I share the same Cardiologist locally and whenever I go in for check ups, the first thing my doctor asks me about is Kent.    

In recent months Kent's situation has become more dire.    Kent has been fighting to keep going and had it not been for God's will, his pacemaker and some sheer determination I don't know that I'd be making this request today.   

Just over 2 weeks ago Kent was admitted to the UCLA Heart Transplant Program.   They began a series of tests and moved him to the ICU so they could monitor him more closely and get water weight off him.   Since he's been at UCLA, Kent has lost more then 30 lbs in water weight and taken every conceivable test.   He even had to have his batteries replaced in his pace maker.  Apparently it had been working overtime this past couple of months. 

Kent is on the list.   His situation has been determined to be so urgent that he will be going to the top of the transplant list.  He is being classified as "1A" status - which is the most urgent.    The blessing is that he has been determined to be a good candidate for a transplant. 

Kent has a son in college, one graduating high school and a daughter who is currently finishing 6th grade.  Kent's wife, Kimari, works full time but as a condition of the surgery she will need to make herself available to Kent full time for the next 3 to 6 months.    In that time, they will need to maintain an apartment or home close to UCLA. They must stay close for monitoring and in the event of a complication he needs to get back to the hospital quickly.   

They are looking into benefits, applying for assistance and even borrowing from retirement savings but it is far from enough.

Here is where we need the help...

We are asking for contributions to help offset some of those costs and living expenses.   Kent has enough on his plate and if we can help relieve some of that financial burden it will go a long way in giving him some peace of mind as he goes through this process.   Kent is an incredibly humble man and would never make this request himself.     

I can assure you that he is deserving.   Kent is an amazing man, a loving husband and a the greatest champion of his children that anyone can possibly imagine.      With his doctor's permission, Kent is home this week as he can't imagine the thought of missing his son's high school graduation.    Anyone that has met him knows that he is a true friend to all and the nemesis of an unfair referee.    Kent has many passions in life but has forgone many of them over the years because of his health and because he has put others first.    Even with everything he had going on personally, he still insists on looking for ways he can make a difference.     

So please, If you can contribute anything to help - it will be greatly appreciated.    If you can share this story it would be appreciated as well.  Any and every contribution will go to the family to cover expenses.   

I will be sure to post updates as to his progress here and on behalf of Kent and our families... Thank You and God bless.