Robert has chosen to fundraise for Help Hope Live in part because Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility to the full extent allowed by law for contributors. Contributors can be sure donations will be used to pay or reimburse medical and related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the Give button.

Two years ago my kidneys began to fail as the result of long term, Type II diabetes. I have watched, through monthly blood work, my kidney functionality drop to less than 15% and I must soon begin dialysis as a means of filtering my blood.

Today I am launching a campaign to raise funds to cover kidney transplant surgery costs which will not be covered by my insurance.

Transplant is a long, expensive endeavor. Specialists have told me that my insurance will reach the “dreaded” donut hole the first month after my transplant. Transplant medications will cost $5,000 per month for the first year following the surgery. These include Valcyte, Bactrim, Mycelex Troches and Omeprazole (as needed) and, for the rest of my life, Immunosuppressants, Cellcept, Prograf and Prednisone so my body won’t reject my new kidney. Each person is unique and the medication regimen will be tailored for me.

As much as money, I am looking for a live kidney donor. Rather than wait for a cadaver kidney, I am hoping someone will step forward and donate one kidney. Doctor’s have told me that a live kidney I will be much more effective than a cadaver kidney. Doctor’s also assure me that a person can live with one kidney and that a perfect match from a donor is not necessary. If a living, donated kidney is not a match for me, it will go to someone else and I will be assured a match from another donor.

I have also considered the fact that I will have to reside in Jacksonville, FL (near Mayo Clinic) for at least two months following transplant surgery and that the costs associated with living in Jacksonville, as well as, maintaining healthy a home in Vero Beach, FL will be great.
You may know someone who has lost their battle with kidney failure. Statistics show that survival is an up-hill battle.

I am married to my caregiver, wife, Claudia, and have two deceased sons, Craig and David, two daughters, Sheila and April, and two stepsons, Matt and Tim. I have one biological brother, Michael. I have included pictures of all of them, as well as, pictures of my grandchildren in an album, MY FAMILY AND ME. I have truly been blessed with the friendship of my loyal Shih Tzu, Nico. My oldest daughter jokes that he is my second attempt at parenting, but the kinship Nico and I have kindled is, actually, more therapeutic to me than anything else.

I am of the Baptist faith, believe the Bible is the literal, inerrant Word of God and, as such, I believe in a literal Heaven and Hell. When my body dies my soul will spend eternity in one of those two places. By faith and through the grace and blood of my Lord Jesus Christ, and because I have accepted Jesus as my personal savior, my soul is destined for an eternity with Him in Heaven. I do not consider myself special because this choice is available to everyone. I consider myself forgiven.

I want to stress the point that HELPHOPELIVE.ORG is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) and, because of this, your donations are not being given directly to me. All donations are tax deductible and are put into a fund at HelpHopeLive and used to pay services to doctors, pharmacies and vendors associated with kidney transplant as I submit receipts. None of your donations will go directly to me. Also, should I die prior to receiving a transplant, the donations are transferred to another person seeking a transplant. Your donations will not have been wasted.

Please help me reverse the statistics and stay alive with a kidney transplant with your generous donation.

I thank you in advance for your donation to this cause that I hold so dear to my heart.

Bob Edwards

For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.

Thank you for your support!