My name is Joe Lightner. I am 36 years old, married to Catina and father to my nine year old son, Ayden. My life took a dramatic turn in September 2012 when I was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Now I await a lifesaving kidney transplant.

On a day like any other, I was cutting the grass when it became difficult to breathe and my heart was racing. An hour later I found myself in the Emergency Room and was informed that my hemoglobin level was extremely low. I was placed on dialysis the very next day. I will never forget Catina and Ayden looking at me with tears in their eyes as the doctor gave us the news. I looked at them and said, “Don’t cry, God is in control and He will get ALL the Glory at the end of the day.”

Always, our faith and family come first. We are actively involved at Higher Living Christian Church and other various volunteer activities throughout our community of McDonough, GA. At any given time I can be found with Warriors for Life, a Young Men’s Mentor Ministry. Outside of Warriors, I coach youth basketball and enjoy playing sports with my son or being outside riding bikes with my entire family. But, it has been a long 22 months on dialysis, which I receive at home for nine hours every night. I have good days and bad days; have battled high blood pressure; and have gone through rough periods when it didn’t appear that anyone might consider becoming my living donor. My dear wife did volunteer to be the donor, but she was not a match. Then, out of the blue, my uncle Joe “Les” Walsh, called and asked if he could be tested to see if he could be my donor. I was overwhelmed by the offer, let alone when I received the call that Les was a match and had been approved for the transplant surgery.