Bill Johnson of Lubbock is calling on his community for help in finding a kidney. He has been on a national transplant wait list for six years now, but he isn’t giving up hope.
Johnson, 56, was only six when he was left with only one kidney. Despite this, he was able to go about life just fine until about six years ago, when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and later, stage two kidney failure.
Now left with one failing kidney, Johnson spends three days a week at dialysis, for four hours each session. Johnson, however, refuses to live a sedentary lifestyle.
Prior to his diagnosis, he was an active truck driver for nearly 30 years. Now, he is an Uber driver, so that he can continue to be out on the roads, but work within his own hours and treatments.
“I’d love to try and get my career back,” Johnson said. “I love trucking, I’ve seen 48 states and Canada, and there’s not much jobs you say you love.”
Johnson realizes he’s not the only one in his situation, and that there are several others who have been waiting for longer. He shared that he hopes his story can at least help to bring awareness to those who are currently sharing his struggles, as well as encourage more people to become donors.
“It’s a hard thing asking for a kidney. It’s just like, they have to think about their health, and I can see where they’re coming from: ‘If I donate a kidney, what’s going to happen with my other one?’ Like I’m only dependent on one you know? So, it is a lot to ask, I realize.”
Once Johnson’s turn comes around, he will have to travel to Dallas for surgery.
If you’re interested in following his story, or being part of his mission, he has set up a GoFundMe page for community members to visit by clicking here.
