Hello, my name is Zach Jones. I am a husband, father, and first responder that is struggling with end stage renal disease. I was diagnosed with an auto immune disease called IGA Nephropathy in October of 2018 when I was 20 years old. Which was one month after we found out we were expecting our first child and one month before my wife and I tied the knot.

I was unaware how this disease could affect my life and did not go to the doctor for the first several months. Several months later I started having severe migraines and found out that they were blood pressure related. With a family of my own I decided I needed to go back to the doctor and get evaluated. At that point I was at approximately 65% kidney function and we started to treat the disease with steroids and blood pressure medicine. The doctor informed that this disease was not curable but did not believe it would get to end stage renal disease. For the next several years we continued to treat the disease with blood pressure medicine and running labs every six weeks as my kidney function continued to drop drastically.

Fast forward to the beginning of 2022. My kidney function dropped to 17% and I was eligible to apply for the kidney transplant list. In April of 2022, I submitted the transplant application and started the process with all of the uncertainties that were coming. 6 weeks later my kidney function was down to 4%. As soon as the doctor got the results he called me and instructed me to go into the emergency room to start dialysis. At 24 years old, with a 2 year old and 1 year old at home, my family is starting a scary process with dialysis. This was the first hospitalization with this disease.

My brother Dj told me that he wanted to try and be my kidney donor without any hesitation from him. Dj is 28 years old with 3 kids. Once I was listed on the transplant list, my brother submitted a donor application to Methodist. On 08/03/2022 we got word that my brother was a match and the transplant should be happening within the next few months. My brother is literally my life saver.

My family and I appreciate any donations that can be made. This is a life changing event that is not only changing my families life but my brothers as well. We look forward to spending this event with you.