I served seven years as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. I was primarily a field artillery and a nuclear, biological, and chemical defense officer, serving with Battery D, Second Battalion, Tenth Marine Regiment, Second Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, NC from 1982-85. While there, I deployed to the Caribbean and Central America several times.
In July 1985, I transferred to the Marine Security Detachment aboard the US Navy aircraft carrier USS America (CV-66) as Executive Officer. While there, I was deployed to the Caribbean, North Atlantic, and Mediterranean Sea. In March and April 1986, I participated in Operations Prairie Fire and El Dorado Canyon, which were freedom of navigation and antiterrorism operations in the Gulf of Sidra, Libya.
In November 1986, I was transferred to Recruiting Station Hartford, CT as Executive Officer. While there, I was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes. This led to my honorable medical discharge in January 1989. My military decorations include the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Unit Citation, three Meritorious Unit Citations, Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and a Marine Corps Recruiting Service Ribbon.
By this time, I was married with three sons. We settled in Connecticut. After eleven years my marriage ended, and I suddenly found myself a single father with three young sons. I lost my job and the family home. We moved to Florida in 1996, and I started a career as a high school English and Social Studies teacher and soccer coach. I retired in 2019. During my teaching tenure I was awarded Coach of the Year in 2003 and Teacher of the Year in 2014.
I was married from 1982-1993, and we had three sons. Following our divorce, I became the custodial parent of our sons. All three have grown up to be successful. My oldest son served as an officer in the US Army and now has a career with the VA. My middle son lives with me and has a career in retail. My youngest son served in the Marine Corps and now works in a local hospital. He is engaged and lives with his fiancé.
My former wife and I reconciled as friends in 1997. She moved close by with her new daughter. I became a mentor to her daughter and now consider her a stepdaughter. My stepdaughter had a daughter of her own, whom I consider my granddaughter. She is six years old and the light of my life!
I was first diagnosed with Stage Three kidney disease in 2010. My condition remained stable until July 2024, when my kidneys failed. I recovered slightly but now I am at Stage Four. I am not on dialysis, but it is imminent. This disease has caused me to suffer from fatigue, pain, nausea, and depression. I also suffer from severe diabetic neuropathy, dermopathy, retinopathy, irritable bowel syndrome, dental issues, and digestive issues. I have had the small toe of my right foot amputated and a complete resection of my right foot and partially left foot.
My interests and hobbies are mainly my family. I also like to travel, read, genealogy, and soccer. I would like to travel to visit family, or to research my ancestry, or to watch my favorite soccer teams play live. I would like to volunteer as a coach, advisor, or mentor to the young people of our community. Unfortunately, few of these things are possible right now due to my health status.
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 Edward‘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