News
      |  Florida Musician Awaits Kidney Transplant NFT patient Kenny Cox needs a lifesaving kidney transplant. His son will donate one of his kidneys to save his father's life. Below is a video Kenny's fundraising volunteers have created on his behalf, featuring a song written and performed by Kenny. Posted by NFT on October 6, 2010 at 12:57pm Watch video at left
   February 15, 2011 Gulf Coast Town Center fund-raiser Sunday in honor of kidney transplant patientKenny Cox is waiting for the phone call that will change his life. He needs a kidney transplant, but the costs are overwhelming. Volunteers are planning a fundraiser to help offset his expenses. In the mid-90s, Cox was diagnosed with renal reflux, which has caused irreversible damage to his kidneys. His left kidney currently only functions at 20 percent, and his right kidney has completely failed. Doctors say a kidney transplant is critical to his survival. Despite his health challenges, Cox is very optimistic and focuses on the positive things in his life, such as his girlfriend and his family and friends. He is surrounded by a strong support system of loved ones who will undergo testing to see if they are suitable kidney donors, and he's very grateful. A painter and musician, Cox loves using his artistic abilities and spending time outdoors camping. He hopes to resume his normal lifestyle once he receives his new kidney. A kidney transplant costs approximately $250,000. Even with health insurance, Cox faces significant medical expenses related to his transplant. For the rest of his life, he will need follow-up care and daily anti-rejection medications. The cost of post-transplant medications can range from $2,000 to $5,000 per month, and they are as critical to his survival as the transplant itself. To overcome these financial challenges, Cox turned to the National Foundation for Transplants (NFT) for assistance. NFT is a nonprofit organization that helps transplant patients raise funds to pay for transplant-related expenses. "Kenny has battled health complications for years," said Lauren Wilmer, NFT fundraising consultant, "but he manages to maintain a good attitude, and he's an inspiration to many. At NFT, we're helping Kenny raise the necessary funds so he can keep concentrating on his health without having to constantly worry about his medical bills." Friends and family are planning "Jam for Life," a music jam and raffle, Sunday Feb. 20 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Gulf Coast Town Center, 9303 Gulf Coast Main St. in Fort Myers. Live entertainment will be provided by and Kapo Kings. There is no cover charge, but donations are encouraged. The event will include a silent auction and raffle for items including restaurant gift certificates, sports and concert tickets, gift baskets and retail gift certificates. For more information, contact Kelly Pohler at kellypohler@yahoo.com or 239-691-7455. To make a donation in honor of Cox, please mail a tax-deductible gift to the NFT Florida Kidney Fund, 5350 Poplar Ave., Suite 430, Memphis, TN 38119. Please be sure to write "in honor of Kenny Cox" in the memo line. Secure donations also can be made online at www.transplants.org. Donors should click on "Patients We Help" to locate Cox. NFT is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization based in Memphis, Tenn. that has been helping transplant patients overcome financial obstacles since 1983. NFT provides fundraising expertise and advocacy to transplant patients by organizing fundraising campaigns in the patients' own communities. In the past 27 years, NFT has helped generate nearly $59 million to assist patients with their expenses. NFT currently assists more than 1,000 transplant candidates and recipients nationwide. For more information about NFT, please call 800-489-3863 or visit www.transplants.org. December 6, 2010 The Rock for Hair and Nails and The Hideaway Sports Bar raised $17, 225 for The NFT (National Foundation of Transplants) and Kenny Cox! For every $5000 raised the NFT kicks in $1000...which brings the total from this
FUN and INSPIRATIONAL event to...$20, 225!!!!
Kenny will have about $30,000 in the NFT bank after "Blow Out to Go Out"!
THANK YOU to everyone who has been so generous in donating to Kenny's new kidney that his son is giving him! Kenny needs $50,000 before the kidney transplant surgery can be scheduled.
THANK YOU to all of the SPONSORS of "Blow Out to Go Out"! THANK YOU to ALL of the Volunteers and The Rock's Rockstars who donated their time and awesome energy!
THANK YOU to Stephanie Davis...The Downtown Diva...for adding her charm and humor! THANK YOU to Dani Taverna a partner in "Style Matters International" for
the beautiful make up on our beautiful guests!
THANK YOU to Shawn Santiago for sharing the amazing "Stella and Dot" jewelry trunk show
and for donating her commission to Kenny!
THANK YOU to ALL of YOU who contributed DONATIONS...whether it through
TIME, TALENT, ART, GOODS, $ AND ATTENDING THIS GREAT EVENT!
THANK YOU to Kenny's friends who traveled to be at the event because you LOVE Kenny! Just Sayin...To KNOW Kenny is to LOVE Kenny...
He's a HUMAN BEING that should be on this earth for a LONG, LONG TIME!
LOVE, PEACE AND GRATITUDE TO ALL OF YOU!
THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART AND
KENNY THANKS YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF HIS KIDNEY!
Kristi Hyde and The Rockstars November 21, 2010 "Blow Out to Go Out" a HUGE Success! MUCH Gratitude and Love to all of our sponsors, volunteers and to all of you who attended the "Blow Out to Go Out" event. Your generous gifts and donations helped us raise over $16,500!!! In addition to that, the NFT will match $1,000 to every $5,000 Kenny and his team raises! WooHoo! There are still a couple of donations floating around out there and we will keep you updated on the grand total as soon as it's calculated. Again, THANK YOU ALL! November 16, 2010 Fundraisers to help local kidney patient Kenny Cox, 45, of Punta Gorda, may have bad kidneys, but he won't let it get him down. He is surrounded by a strong support system of family and friends who will undergo testing to see if they are suitable kidney donors. The costs are overwhelming, and volunteers are planning a fundraiser to help offset the expenses. Friends and family are planning three fundraisers to help with Cox's expenses: To make a donation in honor of Cox, mail a tax-deductible gift to the NFT Florida Kidney Fund, 5350 Poplar Ave., Suite 430, Memphis, TN 38119. Please be sure to write "in honor of Kenny Cox" in the memo line. Secure donations also can be made online at transplants.org. Donors should click on "Patients We Help" to locate Cox By Francesca Donlan • fdonlan@news-press.com September 9, 2010 Fundraiser to help kidney transplant patient A free music jam will benefit local resident Kenny Cox, who needs a lifesaving kidney transplant. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, at Jack’s Restaurant, 201 W. Marion Ave. in Punta Gorda. The event will feature five bands and a raffle. Donations are encouraged. A portion of bar sales will be donated to National Foundation for Transplants in Mr. Cox’s honor. Mr. Cox, 45, was diagnosed in the mid-1990s with renal reflux. His left kidney currently only functions at 20 percent, and his right kidney has completely failed. Doctors say a kidney transplant is critical to his survival. Fortunately, Mr. Cox’s son will donate one of his own kidneys to save his father’s life. Mr. Cox faces significant transplantrelated expenses, including daily antirejection medications that cost from $2,000 to $5,000 per month. For assistance, Mr. Cox turned to the NFT, a nonprofit organization that helps transplant patients raise funds to pay for related expenses. To make a donation in honor of Mr. Cox, mail a tax-deductible gift to the NFT Florida Kidney Fund, 5350 Poplar Ave., Suite 430, Memphis, TN 38119, with “in honor of Kenny Cox” in the memo line. Secure donations also can be made online at www. transplants.org. Donors should click on “Patients We Help” to locate Mr. Cox. For more information, contact kellypohler@ yahoo.com or 691-7455. NFT is a 501(c)(3) organization that has been helping transplant patients overcome financial obstacles since 1983. To learn more about NFT, call (800) 489- 3863 or visit www.transplants.org. Updated: 09/08/2010 08:20:25PM Fundraiser ‘Jam’ to be held for transplant patient An area man will jam at his own “Jam for Life” benefit Saturday to raise funds for his planned kidney transplant surgery. Kenny Cox will join his bandmates from Kapo Kings and Both Hands at Jack’s, 201 W. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda, for a music jam that also will showcase performances from three other local bands. Diagnosed 15 years ago with renal reflux, Cox has still managed to indulge his passion for music and songwriting. “I like to touch on a number of subjects (in his music),” Cox said. “A lot of time, my songwriting comes from other people’s lives.” But, it was his own life that led Cox to find his most moving material. The 45-year-old Punta Gorda man has managed to treat his illness for years without dialysis or surgery. However, with both of his kidneys shutting down — his left one functions only at about 20 percent, while his right kidney has failed — Cox has elected to undergo transplant surgery. An expected emotional search for a donor never happened. It wasn’t needed. Many of Cox’s friends volunteered to get checked out to see if they would be a match, while several others offered on the spot to be a donor. “It was just overwhelming,” Cox recalled. “People just came out of the woodwork looking to help.” And he found his donor in his 23-year-old son, Austin. The Texas resident, who is enrolled in the police academy in Houston, said he never second-guessed his offer. “He’s my dad. I just wanted to do this for him,” Austin Cox said. “It’s like with my close friends. If anyone of them needed something like that, I would have done it for them. My dad has got a lot of friends willing to do that for him too, but right now I’m the best candidate.” Kenny Cox said he was overcome with emotion when his son agreed to be his donor. “He’s such a great kid,” he said. “I mean, what more can you say about this? It’s been so overwhelming.” But even with a donor and health insurance, Cox’s surgery has been postponed until he can come up with the funds to cover costs not covered by his insurance. With transplant surgery, Cox will be administered a number of drugs to prevent his body from rejecting the new organ. Those drugs, he said, can cost as much as $5,000 a month. The hospital won’t perform the surgery until he has $50,000 allocated for his anti-rejection medication. Time, Cox acknowledged, is of the essence. Cox’s friends and family members were referred to the National Foundation for Transplants, a nonprofit organization that offers fundraising assistance for organ and tissue transplant patients across the country. Kelly Pohler, Cox’s girlfriend, said the foundation’s work has been invaluable. “They’ve really been there for every step,” she said. “They keep track of everything and help us maximize every opportunity we can get to help Kenny.” Kenny Cox said he hopes to inspire others to get regular checkups and take better care of themselves. It was a regular checkup that helped doctors detect and diagnose Cox’s renal reflux, he said. E-mail: kbaxter@sun-herald.com How to help To make a donation in honor of Cox, please mail a tax-deductible gift to the NFT Florida Kidney Fund, 5350 Poplar Ave., Suite 430, Memphis, TN 38119. Please be sure to write “In honor of Kenny Cox” in the memo line. Secure donations also can be made online at www.transplants.org. Donors should click on “Patients We Help” to locate Cox. For more information about NFT, please call 800-489-3863 or visit www.transplants.org |
