William Thomas

My wife has been my soulmate for 35 years, loving me unconditionally through all of my illnesses and challenges. About a year and a half ago, she was diagnosed with renal failure and has been on dialysis ever since. Last June, she was accepted into the kidney transplant program at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, pending a series of health qualifications. These qualifications require numerous appointments and procedures at Mayo, many of which are not covered by her insurance. She has needed additional exams like mammograms and other tests required while on the waiting list. Between the two of us, our medical needs have completely depleted our retirement and savings, and we have maxed out our credit cards trying to keep up. I have been battling lymphoma since 2022 and require my own medical services, many of which are also out of pocket. My wife continued to work ten-hour days, five days a week, up until she suffered renal failure. Now, due to our medical conditions, we are both on fixed incomes. She has always been there for those who needed her, and it breaks my heart to see her go through this. I know that many others are facing desperate circumstances and that these are difficult times for everyone. Still, it hurts to watch the woman who has given so much to others now in need herself. I would give her my life if I could, because she is a beautiful Christian woman inside and out. Any support, no matter how small, would mean the world to us. Thank you for your kindness, prayers, and generosity during this difficult time.

My wife and I have always been the ones to lend a helping hand. For 35 years, we worked hard—me at Shands Hospital and my wife at Mayo Jacksonville—doing our best to support those less fortunate whenever we could. But our world began to change in 2009, when I suffered a debilitating illness that ended my employment at Shands. Then, in 2022, I was diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and had to undergo surgery to remove my left thyroid and some lymph nodes. Through it all, my wife kept working and kept us afloat. Then, in 2024, my wife was stricken with kidney failure. She now requires regular dialysis treatments and, heartbreakingly, lost her job as well. The medical bills piled up, and we quickly went through our retirement savings. Now, we are left with thousands in debt and a mountain of uncertainty. We are both in our 60s, living on a fixed income, and facing tough decisions every day. My wife has recently been placed on the kidney transplant list, which brings even more medical requirements and expenses that stretch our limited budget further. Asking for help is not easy for us. We have always tried to give rather than receive, but now we find ourselves in need. We are not seeking financial wealth—just a chance to get our lives back to some sense of normalcy. Any support, no matter the amount, would mean the world to us. Thank you for your kindness and generosity. God bless you.