I am reaching out on behalf of a dear friends of mine, Jeff and Sharon Horneman, whose son, Derek, is facing a serious health battle. This isn’t something I do often – in fact, it’s only the second time I’ve ever set up a GoFundMe fundraiser – but I love this family and want to do whatever I can to try and help them, because they are always there to help others.

Derek, just 31 years old, was diagnosed in October, 2024 with stage 4 renal disease caused by IGA Nephropathy. This diagnosis was incredibly scary for Derek and his wife, Amanda, as they did not know what this would mean for the future of their family. Amanda never dreamed that she would need to be a caregiver for her young husband, while working and taking care of their two young children, Brantley (age 4) and Aubrey (age 2).

Derek has not been able to work since August, and his disability payments have ended. Amanda is working hard to hold things together, but her single income for a family of four just isn’t enough to sustain their family through this crisis. They are trying to do everything they can to keep a roof over their heads, and the emotional and financial toll of this journey is heavy.

In August of this year, Derek was re-diagnosed with end state renal failure and was beginning to show more severe symptoms. His Egfr (kidney function) dropped to an 11, he lost 30 pounds, had no energy and struggled to stay awake. He began dialysis in September. Derek’s brother Nico was recently tested to see if he could donate one of his kidneys to Derek, and they just found out he is a match! It will most likely be several more months to complete all of the testing before they can schedule the transplant. Once Derek receives his new kidney, he will then need several months of recovery before he will be strong enough to return to work. This young family needs some help to get them to the finish line.

This GoFundMe is a way for us to help ease some of their burden. Whether it is contributing financially, sharing the campaign, or keeping Derek and his family in your thoughts and prayers, every bit of support means more than words can express.