I served in the United States Army as a combat medic for 25 years. I am a combat veteran with a tour of duty in Kosovo, and I also did a tour of duty in New Orleans during hurricane Katrina. I joined the military in 1977 and retired in 2006. My rank is Staff Sgt E-6. I enjoyed helping my fellow soldiers in the field that required my assistance, and it brings me joy hearing people say thank you for your service, even my fellow soldiers.
As a civilian I was a Philadelphia police officer for almost 25 years. Because of my battle with kidney disease, I had to retire a few months before my retirement date. I served on the police honor guard during my time on the force. I enjoyed honoring my fellow officers for their sacrifice and helping keep crime down by getting criminals off the street. Being appreciated by civilians was a real honor.
My wife and I will be celebrating 30 years of marriage this year, and she has always been my champion. For better or worse she has been by my side. I have 8 children, 17 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren that I absolutely adore. I love spending time with them when I am able. One of my greatest joys is to hear them say hey “pop-pop” and run up to me to get a hug. I look forward to the day I can get them all together in one place and get a family photo and watch them run around. My children are a great support system.
I developed kidney disease while serving in the military and was diagnosed in February of 2020. I have been on dialysis since September 2023. I am thankful that dialysis can help extend my life but getting a kidney transplant would be a dream come true. Unfortunately, many of my kids and siblings were either tested and were not eligible for donation or have medical conditions that will not allow them to donate.
Dialysis takes a lot out of me. I am so tired and weak on dialysis days all I want to do is sleep or at least lay down. I have no strength to do anything else. The day after, I have chronic muscle pain which limits me from doing most things, and I can only use my right arm if I need to do anything because my access is in my left arm.
I would love to get back to spending time with retired military friends at Lincoln Post and my lodge brothers who send me cards and also call me regularly. I miss volunteering to cook and serve the less fortunate and would love to get back to doing that. I would like to get back to taking drives and sitting by the water with my wife.
I miss letting our dog run through the park unfortunately we lost our dog last year to heart failure. Hopefully a transplant will give me back the strength I need to be able to care for another one. Simple things like going out to the movies and dinner with my wife have been a struggle because I don’t know how I’m going to feel from day to day. I have graduated from a support group but would love to volunteer to go back to share any advice I can or just listen, knowing it may help others.
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 Vernon’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