Rudolph Garrett

I want to run again and live a normal life!

I am Rudolph “Rudy” Garrett, Jr., I am a man of God, I am a husband, I am a father, I am a grandfather and I am a brother.  I was living a normal life working a fulltime job as a Tampa Police Office and running track. While at the police academy doing my physical fitness run, I passed out.  After serval doctor’s visits and procedures, I was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis, a lung disease. My doctor told me that one day I would need a lung transplant, seventeen (17) years later it’s time.

 I was born and raised in Tampa Florida by a single mother with two siblings.  I grew up in the College Hill Housing Projects for 8 years and then moved to a low-income apartment in Jackson Heights.  God laid upon my heart at an early age the desire to help people, so at 11 years old I knew I wanted to be a Police Officer in Tampa, and I was blessed to live that dream. My new dream is to be able to run again in a track meet, but I will need a lung transplant and funds to help with the cost.

This disease caused me to retire from the police department 4 years before I wanted to.  I was stricken with pneumonia 2 ½ years ago that damaged my lungs to the point where I now must be on oxygen 24/7.  Being on oxygen has limited my mobility and I get tired easily.  When I go out with family and friends, I have a time limit on how long I can be with them due to the battery life, unless I can find a plug somewhere.  I just want a normal life again, to come and go without a machine on my shoulder.  

I am facing one of the hardest battles in my life, I have been helping people and serving the East Tampa Community for years.  I need my family, friends, the community and strangers to assist me.  The donations will go towards my medication after the transplant ($1,500 per month), lodging, meals and traveling from Tampa, Fl. To Gainesville, Fl.  University of Florida Shands Transplant Center requires that I must have someone with me on all my visits.  After the transplant I must live in Gainesville, Florida for 3 months with a caregiver.

Please donate to Help Hope Live in Rudy’s honor today and ask your family and friends to give also.  Any contribution no matter the size will make a meaningful difference.  I have no access to the funds. Help Hope Live manages and distributes the funds as needed for medical expenses.  If you’re unable to donate, please consider sharing this fundraiser and please keep me in your thoughts and prayers.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your generosity, support, and kindness during this critical time.  You can reach out to my son (Jarar Garrett) at [email protected].

The family and friends are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live in honor of of Rudy Garrett to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with a Transplant. Rudy 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.

Thank you for your support.