Mark Elmore and family (Stephanie, Tiffanie and Dustin) of Marrowbone, Kentucky is looking for a kidney donor. Mark is the son-in-law of Troy and Linda Norris of Burkesville, and Norris and Mary Ann Smith of Dubre.

Mark was previously a truck driver, but his CDL license was taken away due to his condition. Stephanie works at Fabro, Inc. in Columbia, Tiffanie works at Houchens in Burkesville and is a part-time student at Western Kentucky University. Dustin is a freshman at Cumberland County High School.

Mark was diagnosed with focal segmental glomeruloscclerosis a few years ago. This is a kidney disease with severe hypertension which caused him to start dialysis in August 2010 in Glasgow three days a week. He has since transferred to the Campbellsville Center.

It has been a very long battle. Mark is now in end stage renal failure, and takes approximately 40 pills a day just to stay alive. He has been in and out of the hospital numerous times.

“There are a lot of things that go through your head when going through something like this,” Mark said. “Depression, feeling of uselessness, feeling of not being a provider for your family anymore. Dialysis is something I would not wish on any worst enemy, sitting on that machine for 4 1/2 hours a day, three days a week, with needles stuck in you is not enjoyable, but on the other hand is the only thing along with my medication keeping me alive.”

The family met with the University of Kentucky transplant team in Lexington on December 19, 2013 to see if Mark would be a candidate for a transplant. He has since gone through a series of tests in Louisville and just received confirmation on April 2 that he was put on the transplant list. The transplant team advise that a living donor kidney will last longer than a cadaverous donor.

If anyone is interested in “sharing the gift of life” (being a living donor), you must contact the UK Living Donor Coordinator, Lyne Poly or Todd Maynard at 1-859-323-5737 or toll free 1866-474-6544. Mark’s blood type is A+. There are a few types that will match with his blood type.

Surgery for the donor is usually a laparoscopic procedure and the donor is usually discharged in a couple of days. The cost of the donor testing, surgery, and follow-up care is billed to the recipient’s insurance. There had not been a benefit to help with medical, travel, or transplant expenses, but if you would like to give a monetary donation, there is a savings account set up at First & Farmers National Bank. Anything would be greatly appreciated.

Always remember to give thanks. It’s the small things in life that we take for granted. God bless everyone who has prayed, called, and showed their kindness through this life changing event in their lives.