Thomas “Tommy” Godbold is facing the battle of his life and he desperately needs your help. Several years ago, Tommy was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, a debilitating medical condition that attacks the kidneys. Tommy’s health has rapidly declined over the years and has progressed to the point that he requires dialysis treatments in order to stay alive. He is facing end-stage-renal disease and his only chance to return to good health is a lifesaving kidney transplant.
Tommy has always had an active life and during high school played music and even had his own band. He then served in the US Air Force and then held a career in the manufactured housing business, and later as a customer relations manager. He is a member of his local Masonic Lodge in Fayetteville and is also a Shriner where he has played in the Shrine Sudan Temple String Band for 18 years and the Newbern Court Royal Order of the Jester # 145 for over 30 years! Tommy started a second career in Law Enforcement and became a Deputy Sheriff, then was later promoted to the Detective Division and Supervisor of the Juvenile Section. He worked part-time as a deputy in the Court house in Columbus County and enjoys retirement when he isn’t ill. Tommy has been married to his loving and supportive wife, Julia for over 40 years, who has graciously considered donating the gift-of-life to Tommy by donating one of her kidneys!
Tommy is looking forward to returning to good health so he can continue to spend time with his loving family and friends. Transplant surgery will give Tommy a new lease on life, however funding this procedure is monumental and Tommy needs the help of his friends, family, and community. There will be monumental expenses not covered by Tommy’s medical insurance, including co-pays and deductibles, medical appointments, lab fees, caregiver expenses and even living costs while both Tommy and his wife are recovering from the transplant. Tommy’s travel expenses from his home in Lake Waccamaw to UNC Chapel Hill Hospital, where he will receive his transplant, are quickly adding up. Both Tommy and Julia will have temporary relocation and lodging fees that are expected to cost upwards of thousands of dollars. Tommy will also be required to take costly post-transplant, anti-rejection medications that he will need for the rest of his life.
To help with the financial burden of Tommy Godbold’s uninsured expenses a fundraising campaign in his honor has been established with HelpHOPELive,a trusted nonprofit organization that has been providing community-based fundraising guidance to patients and there families for more than 30 years. All donations are tax deductible, are held by HelpHOPELive in the South-Atlantic Kidney Transplant Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only. Thomas has chosen to fundraise with HelpHOPELive in part because HelpHOPELive assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility for donors. Donors can be sure that funds donated will be used only to pay or reimburse medically-related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the yellow DONATE NOW BUTTON.For more information, please contact HelpHOPELive at 800.642.8399.
Your support is critical to the overall success of Tommy’s struggle. Your contribution counts, no matter how big or how small. Thank you in advance for your kind consideration.
Gratefully,
Ray & Sylvia Davis, longtime family friends, 910-484-3567, rdavis27552@nc.rr.com
