STATUS:
Waiting
My name is Rudolph “Rudy” Gartner, and I served in the USAF for 23 years, including one year in Vietnam. I retired in 2011 with the rank of Master Sergeant. During my active duty, I worked as a Communications Specialist and continued my career in the field as a government contractor, working for various companies.
My last assignment was at Fort Belvoir in Virginia, where I met my future wife. Dorice and I married in 1981 and have two adult children. In November 2022, I developed lactic acidosis as a reaction to one of my medications. This required emergency dialysis, and while my doctors expected my kidneys to recover, unfortunately, they did not. As a result, I am now dependent on dialysis three days a week.
This happened suddenly and without any warning signs. Prior to needing dialysis, we enjoyed annual family vacations throughout the U.S. and abroad. My wife and I especially loved traveling overseas to visit our daughter, who has lived in various countries. I continue to enjoy working in my vegetable garden and walking our dogs, though both activities are now limited due to my ongoing dialysis treatments.
Will you join DOVE in our mission to find a kidney for Rudy? Your support, whether through spreading the word on social media or considering becoming a donor, can make a profound impact on his life and the life of his family!
Rudy 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.
Rudolph "Rudy" Gartner
Air Force Veteran
