John Beard

John Beard

Transplant Type: Kidney

Update: John received a kidney transplant on April 18, 2019!

John Beard is awaiting a new lease on life. Five years ago, his kidneys began to fail. They finally shut down completely in 2016. Unfortunately, he is all too familiar with kidney disease, as his mother suffered and died from it at an early age. John has been on dialysis for the past two years, which takes a toll on his quality of life and leaves him very tired. Doctors say a kidney transplant is critical for his survival.

During this difficult time, John is thankful for the love and support of his family and friends. He has eight children and five grandchildren. Three of his children still live at home and are in school, and his grandchildren are all under the age of five. He enjoys being with his family, but his illness prevents him from being as active with them as he would like.

John looks forward to receiving a transplant that will free him from dialysis and give him back his energy. He enjoys hunting, fishing, going to the lake, and swimming, but his illness limits his activities now. John wants nothing more than to be healthy again so he can return to the activities he once enjoyed, spend more time with his family, be an active father and grandfather, and continue to attend as many of his children’s sporting events as possible. But right now, he needs your help.

The average kidney transplant costs more than $414,000, and that’s only the beginning. Even with insurance, which will cover a portion of the transplant costs, John still faces significant expenses related to the surgery. For the rest of his life, he will need follow-up care and anti-rejection medications. Post-transplant medications are very expensive, and they’re as critical to his survival as the transplant itself.

The transplant center is two hours away from John’s home, and he has to travel back and forth for appointments. When he receives his transplant, he will have to stay nearby while he recovers, incurring substantial expenses for travel, food, and lodging. John’s declining health and dialysis schedule forced him to stop working, further adding to his financial burdens. 

You can help by making a tax-deductible donation to NFT in honor of John. If you'd prefer to send your gift by mail, please send it to National Foundation for Transplants, 3249 W. Sarazen’s Circle, Suite 100, Memphis, TN 38125. Please be sure to write "in honor of John Beard” on the memo line.

Thank you for your generosity!

Patient Health Institute: UAMS