I was on active duty in the U.S. Army as a Patient Administration Specialist from 1987 to 1990. While serving, I earned the distinction of Combat Veteran for my deployment during the Invasion of Panama with Operation Just Cause. My other duty stations included Fort McClellan, Fort Ord, and 98th General Hospital in Nuremberg, Germany. As a Patient Administration Specialist, I assisted military members and their dependents by providing health-related administrative support, ranging from patient intake in the hospital and the field to processing decedent affairs.
As a frontline worker, I learned many aspects of what it takes to support the healthcare of our troops and their families. My military experience provided me with the skills necessary to continue serving my country later by working at the Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center.
After leaving the military, I began my 35-year Federal career at the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center. While at the West Palm Beach VAMC, I held several administrative and financial-based positions in clinics, support teams, and the Community Care team. I continued my career by transitioning to the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) in Philadelphia and later working remotely in Florida. With my work at VBA being focused on processing disability claims and their respective payments, I found this phase of my career to be the most fulfilling. I continued in this capacity until my health necessitated an earlier-than-planned retirement.
While working at the West Palm Beach VAMC, I met my wife, Cindy, who is also a veteran and a VA employee. Together, we’ve raised our three children. Our daughter and my stepson attended the University of Central Florida. She works in Finance at Florida Atlantic University, and he works in Media at NBC. My stepdaughter followed in our career footsteps and is employed at the West Palm Beach VAMC. We are very proud of all of them.
The onset of my kidney disease began about ten years ago. Through diet changes and exercise, I was able to prolong the progression longer than expected. However, my efforts couldn’t prevent the disease from progressing to kidney failure, and I had to begin dialysis in December 2024. Since December, I’ve had multiple unsuccessful procedures to make permanent access points in my arms to receive my long-term treatments.
Until the permanent access point is created, I will have an open port with tubing sticking out from my chest. Because the open chest port is prone to infection and cannot get wet, it prevents me from showering without a large, band-aid-like covering or participating in activities like swimming or snorkeling. Hopefully, a future procedure will be successful, and this inconvenience will be eliminated.
In addition to the access point creation procedures, I had to undergo bypass surgery in March. Unbeknownst to me or my healthcare team, there was a blockage in my heart. Thankfully, during the transplant screening process, tests revealed a blockage, and my healthcare team acted promptly in performing the corrective surgery. Surprisingly, I wasn’t experiencing any symptoms of heart blockage. If I hadn’t been getting screened for transplant eligibility, I dread thinking what could’ve been the outcome. However, through God’s Grace, the blockage was discovered and corrected, leaving me feeling stronger.
Being on dialysis impacts all aspects not only my life, but my family’s lives, too. I frequently have short-notice medical appointments, causing my wife to take a lot of time off. I receive treatment for four hours three times a week. When I come home very weak after dialysis, I can’t do things on those days or spend time with my family, as I’m just very tired.
Before my disease progressed, my wife and I enjoyed traveling on vacations or long weekend trips. However, traveling can be a logistical challenge when receiving dialysis, and impromptu travel is not possible. Even still, we know we are lucky to have each other and embrace opportunities to continue living life to the fullest. We are determined to enjoy our lives together, just with the limitations imposed by living with kidney failure.
My life after a transplant will involve traveling abroad. My wife has never been to Germany, and I would like to show her where I was stationed. If the stars align, we may even have a chance to see the Steelers win in Ireland.
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 Steven‘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