Michael Hocke Kidney Transplant Fund

Michael Hocke is awaiting a new lease on life. Kidney disease has been a part of Mike's life since he was a young boy. A rare form of genetic kidney failure has touched three generations of his family so far. Mike lost his Mom, grandmother and an uncle to this disease. Since last year Mike, diagnosed with “chronic kidney disease”, has been on his own personal journey.

Mike is one of those people who faces life with an open heart and mind. Faced with a life changing diagnosis just one year ago, it hasn't stopped him from dreaming his dreams and moving forward. Although his illness causes him fatigue, sleeplessness, nausea and more, he has always been committed to living healhty in the outdoors and isn't giving up anytime soon.

For now, he can still enjoy his mountain bike for short rides, but his big dreams of scaling more mountains, kayaking the ocean, and living off the land as a subsistence gardener and forager will have to wait until his grand medical adventure becomes more manageable: with a kidney transplant! A transplant from a living donor would change Mike's life in a profound way.

The scientists working in this group have identified the gene and developed a test for it. Many of Mike’s family members have since joined the same research study in hopes of one day finding a cure. What Mike's family has discovered is the type of renal failure that has plagued his family for generations is called Medulary Kidney Disease Type 1. So far, seven family members have been diagnosed with this form of renal failure. Mike has reached stage 4 kidney failure.

How does your donation help? Non-medical costs include travel expenses, out-of-pocket costs, and included is the possible loss of salary for time off work for the surgery and recovery. Generally, these costs must be paid by for by the donor.