STATUS:
Waiting
My name is Mark Bourgoin, and I am a U.S. Air Force veteran. I worked as a 571X0, known as the Fire Fighter Service, and served during Desert Shield and Desert Storm while stationed in Germany and saw the Berlin Wall come down. I had many different assignments, with one of my favorite jobs being at Edwards AFB, where I worked in Off-Base crash recovery for the Space Shuttle, and it is also where I met my wife. Another favorite job was while I was at Ramstein AB, Germany, where I had the role of Fire Inspector. Unfortunately, I was medically retired after 14 years of service due to my kidney diagnosis of FSGS, with the rank of Staff Sergeant.
After leaving the military, I helped close Loring AFB as an Environmental Specialist with Civil Engineering’s Hazardous Waste Program. I then went to work at what is now called AR Gould Hospital as the Manager for Safety, Security, and Emergency Preparedness. In 2018, I was diagnosed with stress fractures in my feet and had to leave there. I then went to work for Northern Light Home Care & Hospice, and I am still there today, continuing to work from home.
My wife and I have been married for 42 years, and our only son, Ian Michael, passed away 31 years ago, and we miss him. We have an “adopted family,” a woman and her three children who are like family to us. My FSGS has slowly progressed, but thankfully I am not on dialysis currently and hope I will never need to be. I have a Catholic priest who is my spiritual advisor, helping with this journey that God has me on, and praying my faith gets me through.
I love to do “honey-do” work both inside and outside the house, my volunteer work at the Knights of Columbus, and the work my wife and I do managing the Food Pantry in town. I also enjoy writing newsletters for both organizations. Serving those who are unable to help themselves blesses my heart.
Will you join DOVE in our mission to find a kidney for Mark? Your support, whether through spreading the word on social media or considering becoming a donor, can make a profound impact on his life, the life of his family, and those he serves!
Mark has enlisted the help of a Veteran's organization called DOVE Transplant which is helping in his outreach to find his life-saving kidney donor. DOVE will assist all prospective donors throughout the process and make sure they do not incur any out-of-pocket expenses related to the evaluation or surgery.
A healthy person can live a normal life with one kidney and save this Veteran's life! Please click on the link below if you would like to learn more OR call (551) 233-1611.
Mark Bourgoin
Air Force Veteran