In October 2024, my brother Matt went to the emergency room with no idea how much his life was about to change. What began as an assumed in-and-out visit turned into nearly a month-long hospital stay, ending with a diagnosis of End Stage Renal Disease. His kidneys are currently functioning at just 20%, and he is now taking steps to get on the kidney transplant list.

Living with End Stage Renal Disease means that Matt must undergo dialysis three times a week, for four hours at a time. This treatment requires the placement of a surgical port. He initially had a chest port, which unfortunately became infected, leading to sepsis and another hospital stay from December 27 to January 15. In March, Matt underwent another surgery to relocate the dialysis port from his chest to his arm — a safer and more sustainable long-term solution, but another difficult procedure in what has already been a long and painful journey.

For the past nine months, Matt has been unable to work — not just because of his hospitalizations, dialysis treatments, and countless medical appointments, but also because his doctors have advised him that he is not medically cleared to return to work. In addition to growing medical bills, he is also struggling to catch up on regular living expenses like rent, utilities, and other basic needs. This situation has been especially devastating for Matt, who has always been a hard worker — often holding down two or even three jobs at a time to support himself. Not being able to work has taken a financial and emotional toll.

Since his diagnosis, Matt has lost over 80 pounds due to the effects of his illness and the major changes he's had to make to his diet. He’s gone from a size 42 waist to a 36, and from a 3XL shirt to an XL — even his shoes no longer fit. On top of everything else, he now needs to replace basic items like clothes, underwear, and socks. These may seem like small things, but for someone already struggling to manage essential bills and mounting medical costs, even the basics have become hard to afford.

Any support you can give — whether through a donation or by sharing this fundraiser — means the world to Matt and our family. Your kindness will help relieve some of the financial pressure he's facing so he can focus on healing and preparing for the next steps in his treatment. We are deeply grateful for your generosity, compassion, and support during this incredibly difficult time. Thank you for standing with Matt!