My name is Kevin, and I’m reaching out with a humble request and a deep hope. I need a kidney transplant to continue living a full life alongside my family and loved ones. I was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, the brother to four siblings. For three years, I’ve had the joy of being married to the love of my life, Keisha, and together we are parents to three beautiful daughters, two handsome sons, and one precious granddaughter who calls me “Pop Pop.” I cherish every moment I spend playing family games, listening to music, dancing with my wife, and enjoying time with family and friends.

 

As a graduate of Jeffersontown High School, Class of 1994, I was involved in football, karate, wrestling, and ROTC. I went on to attend Western Kentucky University for ROTC and joined Omega Psi Phi fraternity, Inc.

Since then, I’ve owned and operated several businesses, including a cleaning service franchise for over two decades, employing many folks who needed opportunities that others may not have offered. More recently, I, along with my fraternity brother and close friend, opened a restaurant, “The Gruv,” to create a safe, welcoming place for our entire community to come together to enjoy good music and good food. I am a proud member of  bates memorial Baptist church, and enjoy taking a lot of different friends that normally wouldn’t go to church to but felt inspired to go to Bates Memorial Men’s Group, “Iron Sharpen Iron”.

 

My life took an unexpected turn in August 2024 due to diabetes and hypertension. After working hard to lose 300 pounds and manage my health, I am no longer diabetic. Unfortunately, my kidneys were severely affected, and I am now in End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), requiring daily hemodialysis at home. This has impacted my family deeply, limiting travel and the time we can freely spend together. Being on dialysis my family must plan around what time I connect. We do not really go on vacations much anymore either, it is hard to go anywhere with knowing I have to do dialysis. Living with kidney disease takes a real physical and emotional toll on a person and their loved ones.

 

Receiving a kidney transplant would allow me to live a healthier, more fulfilling life without dialysis. It would give me the energy to make lasting memories with my loved ones, to support my community, and to be present as my granddaughter grows up. I dream of being there for my sons as they walk down the aisle to marry the one God has for them, and being there to watch them raise a family. I  also dream of traveling and growing old with my loving wife. 

 

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. If being a kidney donor is not an option for you, please consider sharing my journey on social media or with friends, family, and colleagues. Each share increases my chance of finding a compatible living donor and, ultimately, a chance at a longer life.

 

With all my heart, thank you for helping me on this journey.

Warmly,

Kevin