In 2002, I found myself married with a one-year-old son and working for Town Pump as a carrier — a job that was physical and very demanding. Because of my poor health, I was faced with the prospect of dialysis in order to stay alive. After having to sort through many tough decisions, I decided to go on disability and raise my son. It seemed like fate had taken my health and given me my son. In 2003, I was placed on the active transplant waiting list. Unfortunately, my marriage could not withstand the strain and I became a single parent. It was always hard when I had to tell my son that I was too tired to do all the activities he wanted to do.

In 2006, I had been on dialysis for three years and was getting close to the top of the transplant list. Then insurance requirements for a transplant changed and I was required to have secondary insurance. In order to bear this additional expense, I had to return to work at The Town Pump and also took a job at Lucky Lils casino.

Even with insurance, I will face many uninsured, transplant-related expenses such as co-pays and deductibles, doctor visits and the costly immunosuppressant medications that I will need to take for the rest of my life. This presents a financial challenge I cannot meet alone.

To help offset my uninsured expenses, a fundraising campaign in my honor has been established with HelpHOPELive, a nonprofit organization that has been assisting the transplant community for over 30 years. All contributions are tax-deductible, are held by HelpHOPELive in the Northwest Kidney Transplant Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only. Please consider making a contribution.

If you are interested in purchasing PartyLite candles — half of all sales will be sent to HelpHOPELive in my honor. Interested? Please contact me.

Please help me secure a good future for my son — I need to be there for him.

Thank you,

Ryan