For most of my life, I have been the person encouraging everyone else.

As a pastor, I have prayed with people during the hardest moments of their lives. As a broadcaster and writer, I have spent decades trying to remind people that their lives matter, their stories matter, and that even during painful seasons, they should never stop believing that tomorrow can still get better.

Now, I find myself in the fight of my own life.

My health journey began with serious medical complications that eventually led to cancer and later kidney failure. What started as exhaustion and concern slowly became doctor visits, specialists, procedures, fear, uncertainty, and eventually life-changing conversations that no father ever wants to hear.

Recently, doctors began seriously discussing my “end-of-life trajectory” if a kidney is not found soon.

Those words hit differently when you are staring at a picture of your 12-year-old daughter.

Those words stay with you when you are lying awake at night wondering how much time you truly have left. Those words change every thought, every prayer, every moment, and every priority in your life.

My daughter Arizona still needs her dad.

She deserves more memories with me. More life together. More moments where I can encourage her, support her, laugh with her, pray over her, and simply be present in her life. I refuse to stop fighting because she deserves to have her father here for as long as possible.

Because my kidneys are failing, dialysis has become necessary to keep me alive while I continue searching and praying for an O+ kidney donor. Dialysis is not something optional. It is survival. Without the treatments, medications, and supplies, my body cannot properly remove toxins and fluids on its own.

But surviving comes with an overwhelming financial burden.

Even with Medicare coverage, patients are still responsible for a 20% deductible and coinsurance obligation. When dialysis-related billing can exceed well over $100,000 per month, that remaining balance becomes crushing for an ordinary family already trying to survive emotionally and physically.

No one should ever have to choose between paying lights, gas, rent, or paying for life-saving dialysis treatment.

Yet that is the heartbreaking reality many people facing kidney failure live with every single day.

There are moments where the fear becomes overwhelming. Moments where I wonder how I will continue paying for the very supplies helping keep me alive long enough to hopefully receive a transplant. But despite the fear, despite the exhaustion, despite hearing the words “end-of-life trajectory,” I continue believing that my story is not over.

People continue reaching out.

People continue sharing my story.

Some continue getting tested to see if they could become a donor match.

And every single prayer, message, donation, and act of kindness reminds me that hope still exists.

So today, I am humbly asking for your help.

Please pray for me and my family.

Please continue sharing my story in hopes of finding an O+ kidney donor.

And if you are able, please help assist with the dialysis supply deductibles and medical costs that are helping keep me alive.

My life matters.

And after spending years trying to remind other people that their lives matter too, I am asking for help so I can continue living, serving, loving, and being here for my daughter.

Thank you for believing in me.

Thank you for helping me keep fighting.

— Pastor Steve Mills