Robert Thomason

Hi, my name is Robert, and I’m a 43-year-old truck driver. I recently married and have my very first grandbaby on the way this September—a moment I’ve been dreaming about. I have always lived an active, hardworking life. Back in 2012, I experienced a devastating house fire and was placed on medication to help with the trauma and resulting health issues. Those medications nearly put me on dialysis, so they were stopped. Life was going well until 2023, my kidneys began to fail again and I was diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney failure. Since then, everything has changed.

I’ve always been an active person, doing everything I could to stay healthy—managing my condition with diet changes and medication, but I’m now on the verge of starting dialysis. Thankfully, I’ve been approved for a kidney transplant and am currently waiting for a donor match to become available.

But there’s more to me than just my diagnosis. I’m a husband, brother, uncle, son, and soon-to-be BPaw (grandpa)—a title I’m incredibly excited to hold. I’ve had a lifelong passion for trucks and have spent most of my career on the road. I love spending time outdoors, whether it’s camping, fishing, or watching races. I enjoy nothing more than making people laugh. I’m known as the guy who is always cracking jokes—the life of the party, the one who brings the laughter. When I found out I was going to be a grandpa, I was overjoyed.

Still, this illness has taken a serious toll. I’ve had to miss work more often, and it’s been tough emotionally, mentally, and financially. Every day off work means lost wages, and the stress of unpaid bills builds up fast The strict renal diet is hard to follow, especially with my unpredictable schedule. I struggle with sleep and get tired more easily, and painful muscle cramps often keep me awake at night. During the day, I’m frequently exhausted. I also deal with fluid retention, which causes swelling in my legs and makes it difficult to walk at times.

That’s why I’m asking for your help. I’m raising funds to cover my medical expenses, travel, and daily living costs during my transplant journey. After the transplant, I’ll need to stay in Oklahoma City for 4 to 6 weeks near my transplant team. That means both housing and living expenses for me and my caregiver. I’ll also need to cover co-insurance for the surgery, and I hope to help offset costs for a living donor if one is found. The estimated cost is around $5,000, but that could double or triple if there are complications.

I’m hopeful that this transplant will give me a new start. I want to return to work, spend quality time with my growing family, and just enjoy life again. I’m ready to get back to doing the things I love—laughing, living, and giving back to those who’ve supported me.

You can help by donating to Help Hope Live in Robert’s honor today and sharing my story with others. If you’d like to help plan a fundraiser or offer support in other ways, please reach out to Tracie Thomason at [email protected]. Every bit of kindness counts, and I’m incredibly grateful.

Thank you for being a part of my healing journey.