Grabill resident Jeffrey Meador is awaiting a new lease on life. When he was 19, he attempted to donate a kidney to his brother. At that time, he learned that he has Alport syndrome, and instead of being able to donate a kidney, he actually needed one himself. He received a kidney transplant 26 years ago, but now Meador is facing kidney failure again. Doctors say a second kidney transplant is critical.
Meador, a father of two, longs for a transplant that will allow him many more years with his family. He wants nothing more than live a long and healthy life and to be able to walk his daughters down the aisle someday. Unfortunately, the kidney transplant he requires is very expensive.
The average kidney transplant costs more than $414,000, and that’s only the beginning. Even with insurance, which will cover a portion of the transplant costs, he still faces significant expenses related to the surgery. For the rest of his life, he will need follow-up care and anti-rejection medications. Post-transplant medications are expensive, and they’re as critical to his survival as the transplant itself. Meador’s declining health forced him to stop working, further adding to his financial burdens.
For fundraising support and guidance, Meador turned to the National Foundation for Transplants (NFT) for assistance. NFT is a nonprofit organization that helps patients raise funds to pay for transplant-related expenses through their community-based fundraising program.
On August 25, there will be a benefit golf tournament in Meador’s honor. The Tournament will take place at Whispering Creek Golf Club, 216 Rufus Street in New Haven. There will be a shotgun start at 8 a.m., and the format is a 4-person scramble. Online registration is available at http://give.transplants.org/jeffmeadorgolf. The cost to participate is $240 per 4 person team or $60 single player. Registration is also available the day of the tournament. There will be prizes for the top 3 teams, longest drive, closest to the pin, and longest putt. In addition, there will be food following the tournament as well as raffles for prizes. Proceeds will go to the National Foundation for Transplants to help with some of Meador’s transplant-related expenses.
If you’re unable to attend but wish to make a tax-deductible donation in honor of Meador, please send a contribution to the NFT Indiana Transplant Fund, 5350 Poplar Ave., Suite 850, Memphis, TN 38119. Please be sure to write “in honor of Jeffrey Meador” on the memo line. Secure donations also can be made online at www.transplants.org. Donors should click on “Find a Patient” to locate Meador.
About NFT
NFT is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization based in Memphis, Tenn. that has been helping transplant patients overcome financial obstacles since 1983. NFT provides fundraising expertise to transplant patients by organizing fundraising campaigns in the patients’ own communities. NFT’s fundraising campaigns have generated more than $82 million to assist patients. In the past year, NFT has served 2,100 transplant patients and assisted more than 4,200 individuals and community partners. For more information about NFT, please call 800-489-3863 or visit www.transplants.org.
