Joe Zakutansky

25 years ago Joe’s life was thrown into upheaval when he was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD). Despite being given this life-altering diagnosis, Joe did not let it stop him from serving in the US Army in the Persian Gulf War, helping to build houses with Habitat for Humanity, working with the Boy Scouts of America, graduating college or getting married. Over time, his condition gradually worsened and during the last two years ago his kidney function decreased more rapidly and Joe was placed on the waiting list for a kidney transplant. We are happy to share the goods news that on March 29th Joe received his gift-of-life – his kidney transplant. He is home and resting – taking it one day at a time.

Joe grew up in Northwest Indiana just outside of Chicago and graduated from Merrillville H.S. After graduation, he joined the US Army for four active years. Joe also served, state-side, at Fort Rucker, AL, and spent two years in South Korea in the 2nd Infantry Division at Camp Casey and later served in the Army Reserves in Terre Haute. Joe received degrees from Vincennes, Purdue and Indiana Wesleyan, along with a Masters in Human Resources Management. Joe and the love of his life, Allison, were married in 2002. He has worked for both Frontier and Verizon Communications for over ten years and his love of the hotel industry has kept him working both full/part time for over 20 years for Marriott. Joe has always been the person everyone could depend upon — whether it is his wife, a disabled ovarian cancer survivor, people at his workplace, his church or his family. Joe has always had a positive and generous spirit that has helped many throughout the years – now it is our turn to help him.

Transplants are life saving but financially draining. Even with insurance, Joe will have many uninsured transplant-related expenses such as: co-pays and deductibles, doctor visits, travel and temporary relocation to be near the transplant center and the costly immunosuppressant medications that he will need to take for the rest of his life. Now more than ever, fundraising is vital to help insure the good health of his new kidney

To help offset such expenses, a fundraising campaign in Joe’s honor has been established with Help Hope Live, a trusted nonprofit organization that has been providing community-based fundraising guidance to patients and their families for more than 30 years. All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law, are held by Help Hope Live in the Great Lakes Kidney Transplant Fund, and are administered by Help Hope Live for transplant-related expenses only. If you would like to make a contribution today, please click the GIVE button.

We are most appreciative of everyone’s help and we thank you for your continued support, prayers and well wishes.

Sincerely,

The Family of Joe Zakutansky