Please allow me a moment of your time to tell you about my son, Mark Kahre. Mark is a forty-six-year-old father of two sons. He currently lives in Avon, IN. Mark is one of the most hard-working, compassionate, determined men you could ever hope to meet. He is also very sick and needs a lifesaving kidney transplant.
His battle with kidney disease began in 1998 when doctors diagnosed him with immune globulin renal disease. He started dialysis treatment immediately, three times a week, several hours at a time. Mark was just a young man of 28 at the time. He continued this schedule while being employed full-time in aviation ground maintenance at the Indianapolis Airport, a job he loved. After two long years, Mark received the Gift of Life- a kidney transplant- in January of 2000! Not long after recovery, he returned to the job he loved, enjoying life again with his family, raising his two young boys, camping and fishing.
After nearly 13 good years, the immune globulin renal disease had affected the function of his transplanted kidney. Dialysis started again June of 2013 and these treatments continue today, every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday night from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m. These last four years of deteriorating health have taken a toll. Mark had to stop working and go on disability but he is determined to remain self-reliant, living on his own, driving himself to and from treatments. Encouraged by his physicians, he began the process once again to become a candidate for a 2nd kidney transplant.
Transplants are lifesaving but financially draining. The hospital where the surgery will take place, will not begin the extensive evaluation process until $3500 has been raised for Mark’s post-transplant care. This is the most pressing expense among the other out-of-pocket costs not covered by insurance. Your help can make the difference!
To help with the financial burden of uninsured expenses, a fundraising campaign has been established in honor of Mark Kahre with Help Hope Live, a trusted nonprofit organization that has been providing community-based fundraising guidance to help patients and their families in need for more than 30 years. All donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law and are held by Help Hope Live in the Great Lakes Kidney Transplant Fund in honor of Mark Kahre. Donations are allocated by Help Hope Live based on financial need for medical expenses. Please consider making a contribution today.
For credit card donations, please click the Donate Now button.
As Mark’s mother, I have seen him battle through many difficult times. He has faced medical issues for most of his adult life and personal struggles as well. With your help, it is the hope of Mark and his family, for him to receive the Gift of Life, to be able to return to employment and cherished time with his sons. Thank you for reading Mark’s story and for your kind consideration.
With sincere gratitude,
Sue Tibbetts (Mark’s mom)
satibbetts@aol.com
