Meet

Steven Rodriguez

I think from the outside looking in one might think I lived a comfortable life.

Raised by a single mother and the youngest of 3 boys, I’ve always considered myself to be the one that sort of fades into the background.

I keep my head down and I try to stay out of everyone’s business, because I strongly dislike when my bubble is penetrated.

Call it my “safe space” if you will.

My philosophy has always been “don’t bother me, I won’t bother you.

I wouldn’t consider myself to be a proud individual by any stretch of the imagination, however there is an innate desire within me to remain as autonomous as possible.

What I do affects me and me only—unfortunately my current situation calls for all that to go out the window.

Anyone that’s known me prior to 2020 will likely remember I was over 100lbs heavier than I currently am now.

My decision to have weight loss surgery in the Spring of 2021 was a life changing one, that came a little too late. The irreversible damage I caused to myself resulted in severe damage to my kidneys.

In December of 2019, I was told that I would need to urgently see a nephrologist, where my diagnosis of Stage 4 Kidney failure was confirmed.

Up until recently, I made the conscious decision to keep my pain and suffering quiet however this has been much to my detriment.

I now realize that no one is magically going to know that I need help. I realize I need to be more vocal and reach people directly and let them know exactly what is going on.

I have been on the donor waiting list now for 2 years. They say it takes 5 to 7 years to get a kidney in New Jersey.

I recently underwent a surgical procedure to place a fistula in my wrist for dialysis access, which means that dialysis is imminent.

This is not they way I envisioned my life at almost 35 years of age. But there is no use crying over what I cannot change. The reality of the situation is simple.

I’m in big trouble, and if I don’t get a living donor, my life story may come to an untimely conclusion.

Being a living donor is a relatively noninvasive procedure for the donor that will quite literally save my life. My job here now is to campaign for myself and to find that one person willing to STEP UP.

The good thing is that it only takes one person to STEP UP and to make the decision to be a hero. It takes one person to STEP UP FOR STEVE.