OUR BELOVED SON JASON WILL BE THE RECIPIENT OF HIS MOTHER'S KIDNEY ON JUNE 26, 2025.

The Reason: After years of wrestling with IgA nephropathy (an autoimmune disease attacking kidneys), doctors recently told Jason that his declining kidneys would be minimally functional by the summer of 2025. This resulted in an urgent and dreaded call home in late December 2024.

The Recipient: Jason, born in 1985, left his home in Long Island, NY, after high school in 2003 (the day before he turned 18) to try his fate in Korea, a country which had caught his fancy (a long story in itself). He soon mastered the language, applied, and was admitted to Korea’s top university (Seoul National University). There he studied Earth Science (in Korean), getting some scholarship money and also funding his way by teaching English on the side. (Never a burden to his parents.)

In 2009 he graduated with a teaching certificate in science and opted to stay in Korea as a middle school science teacher. Presently, he teaches there at an international school.

In 2015, Jason was diagnosed with the above-mentioned autoimmune disease, which has since progressed to a place where he is now in urgent need of a kidney.

Our ‘baby’, our firstborn, is now almost 40 years old and has been in Korea his adult life; and now has two boys, Hwanin (15) and Tayin (12), for whom he is the sole provider and caretaker.

The Donor: will be his mother Donna Fusco Howell, a selfless woman of courage and compassion, who has since been vetted and approved as a match. Recently quoted, “I’d do anything to save my son’s life.” (Photo with Jason below.)

Expenses appear daunting: There’s pre-transplant vetting / testing taking place in Korea. In total, Donna has made two trips to Korea for pre-surgical testing, and will make one more for the actual transplant scheduled for June 26. She will be staying in Korea for a month after the operation. Her daughter, Oriana, will be attending during the operation and post-op.

Korea’s national health insurance is funding much of the transplant and some related pre-testing expenses (still being sorted out) excepting about $20,000. Other expenses will include some in-home aftercare, expenses for transportation, doctor follow-up and miscellaneous in-Korea expenses for those supporting him.

Our goal: is to raise $40,000. Challenging, at first consideration for sure, but one can never underestimate the generous souls of others: family, friends, friends of our friends, some, no doubt, complete strangers! We believe it is achievable with your help. Every donation, small and hugely generous, is welcome, needed, and deeply appreciated. We deeply thank you in advance.

Love and best wishes, Lloyd and Donna Howell