"Mike" Deperrio

My name is Wayne Andrews, a hockey referee and a 23-year surviving kidney donor. I am organizing a fundraiser on behalf of my friend, Mike Deperrio.

In August 2023, at the age of 34, Mike was diagnosed with end stage renal disease due to IGA Nephropathy. His priority should be concentrating on maintaining his health until a matching kidney donor is found.

Mike is currently managing his condition with hemodialysis, going for treatments three times a week. Hemodialysis is a machine that filters wastes and fluid from your blood when your kidneys are no longer healthy enough to do this work adequately on their own. This is a way to help treat advanced kidney failure. Due to the deficiency in his kidney function, Mike is now in need of a new kidney.

Because of this treatment, Mike was forced to stop working from August 2023 through January 2024. Although he is managing and maintaining his health with this treatment, he has been forced to deplete his savings to pay for medical bills during this time.

Prior to his diagnosis, Mike was the main breadwinner for his household and handled most of the expenses. He also supports his disabled mother and assists with the upkeep of her home and vehicle. This condition has kept Mike from being able to help and care for the people who rely on him the most.

As you can imagine, finances are stretched thin, to say the least. Mike was self-employed as a full-time hockey referee, performing with an amazing work ethic. His integrity and great sportsmanship were respected by all he worked with, on and off the ice. Being unable to work full-time, I know Mike would be very grateful for any assistance, large or small, to help with his expenses. He and his family could definitely benefit from your support during this difficult time of need.