William Robinson

William “Relentless Bill” Robinson

Transplant Type: Kidney

Update: Bill received a kidney transplant on December 26, 2019!

Bill Robinson is used to telling other people’s stories, but never expected to need to tell his own. Nearly three years ago, Bill’s entire life changed and he now finds himself fighting for his life. Although at first he attempted to keep the news of his failing health to himself and handle it all on his own, he realizes now that he can’t do it alone. Bill needs your help.

In 2017, a trip to the emergency room revealed that his kidneys were functioning at only three percent and he was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Bill was shocked by his diagnosis, as he is free from any of the major causes of kidney failure and there is no family history. In order to survive the short term, he immediately began dialysis. While dialysis can buy him some time, doctors say a kidney transplant is critical to his long-term survival.

During such a difficult time, Bill is thankful for those who have stood by him, especially his daughter, Katherine. She recently gave birth to Bill’s first grandchild, Liam. Bill wants nothing more than to be an active grandfather to Liam (and his future siblings), and be there to toss the football, teach him chess, and read him the classics.

Bill spent 25 years as an award-winning writer and journalist, and although he’s unable to work now, he would like to write again someday. He is an avid traveler, but his health and dialysis schedule prevents him from doing so now. Bill looks forward to receiving a transplant that will free him from dialysis, allow him to return to the activities he once enjoyed, and enable him to enjoy many more years with his daughter and grandson.

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, he 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 expensive, and they’re as critical to his survival as the transplant itself.

Bill lives 300 miles from his transplant center and traveling back and forth for appointments can be expensive. When he receives his transplant, he will have to temporarily relocate to be nearby while he recovers, incurring substantial expenses for travel, food, and lodging. Bill’s declining health forced him to stop working, further adding to his financial burdens.

There are more than 100,000 people on the waiting list for a kidney transplant, and the average wait is between five and ten years. Bill may not have that kind of time, so he began to look into options to lower his waiting time. Thankfully, Bill was accepted into a trial program at UNC-Chapel Hill that makes it so his transplant could happen any day. It’s an exciting prospect for Bill, but it also makes it even more urgent that he has the necessary funds available.

You can help by making a tax-deductible donation to NFT in honor of Bill. If you'd prefer to send your gift by mail, please send it to the NFT North Carolina Transplant Fund, 3249 W. Sarazens Circle, Suite 100, Memphis, TN 38125. Please be sure to write "in honor of Bill Robinson” on the memo line.

Thank you for your generosity!

Patient Health Institute: University of North Carolina