Demosthenes “Dennis” DeVera is a 60-year-old US Navy Veteran. He grew up in the Philippines where his father served in the Navy. Dennis had a desire to be a military doctor and received his B.S. in Public Health (pre-med). He then decided in 1988 to join the US Navy as a foreign national. He was one of two applicants selected out of 102 for the program and found himself not only a new service member but also an immigrant with all the challenges that brings.
Dennis served his first four years as a Personnelman onboard USS MERRILL (DD-976). In a pinch, he also became part of the firefighting and security details. He served as a Personnel Petty Officer at North Island Naval Station in CA for his final four years. His eight years of service were during both Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
After Dennis’s military service ended in 1991, he used his GI Bill to get his B.S. in Computer Science and a master’s degree in Software Engineering. He started working for the Department of Defense in 2006 and is still employed there. He really enjoys his job and is still able to work 40 hours. Dennis was diagnosed in 2022 with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) a rare disease that affects the filters in your kidneys and had to start dialysis the same year.
Dennis and his wife Eloisa have two grown children. Eloisa, his love and support, is a 3X cancer survivor, who he says is the bravest woman he knows! He loves to play guitar and sing, read science fiction books, and take pictures. He still goes to the gym three times a week to try to keep up his strength!
For medically cleared donors, giving the gift of life through living kidney donation has been proven to be very safe. 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 Dennis’s life with the other!
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!
Please click on the link below if you would like to learn more OR call (551) 233-1611