Gerald Jovann Sharpless, II

Jovann Needs a Heart and Kidney Transplant

At ages 2 and 3, GJ and Lejend don’t understand what “lupus nephritis” means. They just know that Daddy is at the hospital a lot and they miss playing with him.

Their dad, Jovann, is only 36 years old—and he urgently needs both a heart and kidney transplant.

Jovann is a devoted husband to his wonderful wife, Britanni, and a father whose world revolves around his two toddlers. He enjoys the outdoors with his family, including fishing, gardening, and exploring trails with his wife and kids. He is a faithful member of Peace Missionary Baptist Church and a dedicated AHA (American Heart Association) and CPI (Crisis Prevention Intervention) instructor at UNC Healthcare. At work, he teaches CPR, basic life support, and crisis prevention techniques to medical staff, law enforcement and security officers. There is a certain irony in watching a man teach others how to save lives while he fights to save his own.

A fight that began at 18

Jovann has been fighting lupus for half his life. He was diagnosed in 2008, during his senior year at Durham School of the Arts. After graduation, he headed to NCA&T and joined the drumline, but just weeks into his freshman year, he was hospitalized. Lupus had begun attacking his kidneys.

What happened next says a lot about Jovann.

Rather than give up on his education, he kept finding ways to continue. He took classes closer to home when his health required it, returned to NCA&T when he was well enough, and eventually transferred to NC Central University after kidney failure forced him to begin dialysis.

Then in 2013, Jovann’s father gave him an extraordinary gift—one of his kidneys. The transplant gave Jovann a new lease on life. He earned his degree in dietetics and nutrition from NCCU in 2015 and went on to become a high school science teacher and drumline coach.

For 11 years, Jovann’s health remained relatively strong, then everything changed.

Now Jovann needs another chance

In 2024, Jovann contracted COVID and suffered a stroke a few months later. Since then, he has endured serious heart and kidney complications, including additional strokes, blood clots, and repeated hospitalizations. His health has now declined to the point that he needs both a new heart and a new kidney.

Through it all, Jovann has remained optimistic, holding tightly to his faith, and inspiring everyone around him. What he wants now is remarkably simple: time. Time to watch GJ and Lejend grow up. Time to celebrate birthdays and graduations. Time to take them fishing, shoot baskets, teach them to be godly young men, and simply be their dad. 

The transplant is only the beginning

We are incredibly grateful that Jovann’s health insurance will cover most of the direct transplantation expenses. But surviving a transplant is just the first step. Even with insurance, his family faces over $50,000 in ongoing out-of-pocket expenses in the years ahead. These include deductibles and co-pays, lifelong medications needed to prevent organ rejection, medical supplies, frequent travel for specialized follow-up care, and lost income during Jovann’s hospitalization and recovery.

Help us give Jovann more time

Family and friends of Jovann are raising funds through Help Hope Live, a tax-deductible nonprofit. Our goal is to raise $50,000 so that Jovann and Britanni can spend less time worrying about medical bills and more time focusing on getting Jovann healthy and home to their family. Every donation, no matter the amount, brings them a little closer to that goal. All donations to Help Hope Live are tax deductible and eligible for employer matching funds. If you are unable to give, sharing Jovann’s story and keeping him and his family in your prayers are equally meaningful.

Thank you for supporting Jovann, believing in his journey, and helping him hold on to hope for a healthier tomorrow.

Jovann has chosen to fundraise with Help Hope Live in part because donations are tax deductible for contributors and will only be used to cover medical and related expenses.