Gilberto Howard is a retired Army Staff Sergeant with 20 years of service as an infantryman. He started his career in 1981 at Fort Irwin, CA in an Opposing Forces Unit before receiving orders to go to Korea for a year in a Scout Platoon, for three months being tasked with patrolling along the demilitarized zone.
When back in the States, Gilberto managed the training in a range patrol platoon at Fort Hunter Liggett, then off to Germany for three years and was a jungle operations training instructor in Panama. He spent three years at Fort Campbell, KY before finishing his career in Puerto Rico as an ROTC duty instructor, retiring in 2001.
After his military service, Gilberto went to work in agriculture with his father-in-law. Shortly thereafter, he became sick and was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, battled PTSD and in 2003 was diagnosed with FSGS – focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. His kidney function is poor and is often fatigued and needed to begin dialysis in April 2025.
Gilberto and his wife Ana have been married for 34 years, have two children and a 4-year-old grandson and a 7-month-old granddaughter. He lives near the Gulf of Mexico where he enjoys scuba diving and fishing for redfish and mackerel. His hobbies also include golfing, the shooting range, and playing Call of Duty with his childhood friends!
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 Gilberto’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