Please donate to help Richard the Lion-Hearted!

“My Kingdom for a Kidney!”

Richard the Lion-Hearted could use a hand…or a kidney.

Fickle fate has made Richard Giardina trade off his freshman year in college for a 33-day hospital stay and a diagnosis of stage 5 kidney failure. But if you know Richard, you know about his fortitude. Throughout his life, whether on the baseball field, in the karate dojo, or gamely accompanying his grandparents to community band, Richard has always held a stoic demeanor.

At 19 years old, Rich’s days are filled with daily medical procedures and appointments, even as he continues to work and maintain some semblance of a normal teenager’s life. His days are full of rich time spent with friends and family, but each evening he is tethered to a dialysis machine every night for 10 hours. The dialysis is keeping Rich healthy for now, but ultimately he will need a kidney transplant.

Rich’s goals are to attend college in the fall and receiving a kidney in the not too distant future. This Go Fund Me has been set up to help with the accruing bills for Richard’s care and to make his dreams for the future a reality.

Any donations you can make on his behalf would be appreciated in ways you may never know. You will literally be contributing to the ability of a fine young man to live a rich, long, and happy life!

Rich, as well as his family, would like to thank all the family, friends, and strangers alike who have offered support and encouragement. This outpouring of love is what fuels our perseverance.

To learn more about the transplant process please visit The National Kidney Foundation (kidney.org).

Thank you!

The Giardina Family