STATUS:
Waiting
Thomas R. is a 55-year-old loving husband, father to a son severely affected by Autism, and step-father to two bonus daughters he loves as his own. He was born into a family of military service at Fort Benning, GA, as a third generation U.S. Army soldier. Thomas enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve as a Military Police Officer, assigned to the U.S. Army Reserve Special Support Activities, rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant. He subsequently transferred to the Georgia Army National Guard and Reserve Officer Training Corps’ Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP), where he earned his Master’s Degree and Commission as a career intelligence officer toward active-duty service.
Thomas returned to his military reserve career when he became a government civilian with the U.S. Intelligence Community. He maintained parallel careers in the U.S. Army Reserves and the Department of Defense as an Intelligence Officer until his military retirement at the rank of Major. He has over 12 combat deployments to Asia, south-east Asia, and south-central Asia. His military service spans over 24 years and his collective service to our nation exceeds 36 years of distinguished service with the Bronze Star Medal as one of his highest achievements awarded.
In 2014, Thomas began being monitored by his doctor for a genetic condition called Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD). The disease ran its normal course until February 2021, when his mother passed away from COVID-19, and instigated the onset of a hypertensive crisis for Thomas. The uncontrolled and elevated blood pressure caused significant and irreversible damage to his kidneys, placing him in renal failure, and in need of a kidney transplant. Today, he is preparing for at-home hemodialysis treatment while awaiting a gift of a living donor kidney.
Thomas’ best chance to love his wife for the 22 years he promised her, care for his exceptional needs son, and receive the blessing of seeing his bonus daughters get married and have grandkids is to find a living kidney donor. He 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 551-449-8319.
Thomas R
Army Veteran
