If you can help... My husband needs a kidney

Hello, My name is Nina-Marie Smith. I've been with Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools for 21 years now. I love my job and enjoy being their for our students and teammates. It's very rewarding and requires alot of hardwork and dedication. 

I met my husband Jermaine Smith in 2010. We are the BEST OF FREINDS! We got married in September of 2021 it was a beautiful day and a joyous occasion. But a month before our wedding day Jermaine got terribly sick. He couldn't stop coughing, he couldn't eat or sleep he was so miserable. He refused to go to the doctor. I was going back and forth to work to check on him and he kept getting worse. Finally after a few days in pain he went to the hospital. When we arrived they said I would have to wait in our car because of his symptoms. They thought it could be covid-19. They said Nina the doctor will call you. I waited and waited...finally the doctor called. He said it doesn't look too good. Looks like Jermaine has heart failure, maybe a stroke, plus high blood pressure and pneumonia. I'm like what is going on he's only 36 years old. He said we will have to transfer him to CMC Main Atrium. But unfortunately I couldn't see him. Finally after a few days they said he doesn't have Covid-19.

Jermaine was diagnosed with Renal Kidney Failure Stage 5. His kidneys were functioning at 9% we we're so devastated. He had to start dialysis right away in the hospital. So our life has definitely changed in 2 years. We do his treatments at home Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. I decided to make up my mind and put Jermaine on as many transplant list as possible. Currently he's on Atrium CMC Main. Now we're waiting on Wake Forest, Charleston, Duke and Chapel Hill. We have alot of up coming appointments coming up. We're hoping we can find Jermaine a kidney soon.

The cost of the kidney surgery will cost 150,000- 250,000 or more. Hopefully his insurance will cover most of the cost. But we will have to pay for traveling expenses, hotel stays, food, medication and bills after his transplant. Once he gets approved I will take off from work for about 4 months. We have a 5 year old son.. It will be joy for our son to see his father not hooked up to a machine.

Thank you for any contributions and just even a prayer of hope!

If you know anyone that would to give Jermaine a kidney you can also contact

Mr. Tyson Bogart RN Kidney Transplant Coordinator in Charlotte NC

We thank you!

Sincerely,

Nina- Marie Smith