Cd'A man fighting for a second chance

COEUR d’ALENE — For a 72-year-old Coeur d'Alene man, a kidney transplant means more than good health: it means a chance to continue to serve the community. 

Conall Kingrey, frequent volunteer and church usher, has turned to the medical fundraising nonprofit Help Hope Live for assistance with covering the costs that insurance won’t cover to make a transplant possible, a press release said.

The 26-year resident spends his time volunteering to bring faith and communion to nursing home and assisted living seniors. He attends mass daily and serves as an usher, connected to local faith organizations including St. Thomas, St. Pius, and St. Joan.

“I sit with those who are dying, who don’t have anyone,” he explained.

Kingrey is currently reliant on dialysis sessions to stay alive until a kidney transplant can bring him new hope. However, a kidney transplant costs over $446,000 on average before insurance.

“The surgery is covered partially by insurance, but the out-of-pocket costs are overwhelming," he said.

Those costs include medical travel, follow-up visits, and a lifetime of anti-rejection medications.

Help Hope Live verifies medical and financial need for every patient. Since 1983, campaigns organized by Help Hope Live have raised over $194 million to pay patient expenses, assisting more than 25,000 patient families.

"I’m fighting for a second chance at life," Kingrey wrote.

To donate: helphopelive.org/campaign/27448/