Dear Friends and Family,

As many of you are already aware, Steve was diagnosed with end-stage renal failure over five years ago. Steve continues his daily routine with the ultimate grace and good nature that defines him. He does this despite his grueling regime of home dialysis five times a week. Steve works a full, long, hard day, despite the fact that he would be granted long term disability. He does not want to be a burden on anyone. Steve’s dialysis takes up most of his night and interferes with his ability to rest comfortably, but it keeps him alive!

Steve was initially on the Albany Medical Center transplant waiting list for a kidney. Since moving to south Florida, Steve is now listed at the University of Miami’s Jackson Memorial Hospital Transplant Institute and The Cleveland Clinic in Weston. He has been on the list for four years now, and is hopefully getting closer to receiving that call. However, even with insurance, the out-of-pocket expenses will run anywhere from $40,000-$50,000 and upwards! His prescription medications will be taken for the duration of his, hopefully, long and healthy life and the cost is astronomical!