Update on Floyd Holmes

Update on Floyd Holmes

Wife of local man in need of kidney reports progress

ralphhardin@gmail.com “Thank you for sharing our story,” said Reena Holmes. “I wanted to let you know we have received such positive feedback since last week.”

The story Mrs. Holmes refers to concerns her husband, Floyd, and his need for a kidney transplant, along with funds to pay for related expenses. The Holmes family turned to the paper for help.

“We received our first donation, from an old-time friend of our family, soon after the papers hit the stands,” she said. “He came straight to our doorsteps after reading the story and blessed us with the first donation.”

While the benevolent neighbor wishes to remain anonymous, she said both he and his son visited with the couple and shared how the Holmes had helped them with jobs in the past.

“They wanted to show their appreciation by helping us in a time of need,” Holmes said. “His parting words of comfort to us were to know that he is praying for us and he told us not to worry because God will provide.”

She said he added with a smile, “We add but God multiplies.”

On the transplant front, Holmes said the couple have heard from two friends of Floyd’s brother, who lives in Texas.

“They expressed an interest in being donors for Floyd after reading about his story on Facebook,” said Holmes. “These men are strangers to us who indicated their willingness to give Floyd a second chance at life without the confinements of dialysis.”

Her understanding is that the more transplant centers a person is listed with in different regions, the better. “It improves the timing and increases the chances for transplantation,” she said. “Floyd is listed and active with Methodist University Hospital in Memphis, and now we are pursuing a listing in Arkansas through the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Hospital.” The Holmes family traveled to Little Rock to UAMS this past Tuesday for an initial pre-transplant screening. She said the results of the visits were “extremely favorable,” and the staff indicated he was medically suitable for recommendation to the full committee for additional evaluation.

“While there, we learned that most, if not all, of the hospital and clinical visits should be covered by our insurance. However, the anti-rejection medicines are not fully covered. He will have to take anywhere from 6 to 15 new meds post transplant – that is in addition to the medicines he is already taking. He will be on three anti-rejection and three anti-infection medicines minimally immediately after transplant,” said Holmes.

The cost of those six medications alone could exceed $6,000 per month, and after insurance, the couple will be responsible for the copayments and co-insurance . The need for some of these medicines will be phased out over time; however, Holmes will be required to take most of them for the rest of his life as long as the kidney is viable. Doctors have indicated the biggest risks after surgery are rejection and infection, and that some vocations, such as farming, are not ideally transplant recipients due to a high exposure to toxins and contaminants.

Transplant recipients are required to have a support person before, during, and after transplant to assist the patient through the process. Barring any complications, Floyd will be expected to stay in the hospital 7-10 days post-transplant. After he is discharged he will have travel to the transplant clinic minimally for twothree days a week for labs, to monitor the kidney function, and to adjust his medications as warranted for about three weeks. He can then have his labs drawn locally. He will not be permitted to drive for 6 – 8 weeks after the surgery or for as long as he is on pain medication. As a caregiver, both transplant centers require that I am available to help administer his medicines, help monitor his progress, and to transport him to and from visits. I will not be able to work during this time.

“The doctor indicated Floyd should feel better immediately after transplantation,” she said. “He also indicated that a living donation generally lasts longer than a deceased donation. He further stated Floyd’s life expectancy will be extended if he is able to get a transplant as compared to living the remainder of his life on dialysis.”

Finding a donor, however, is key.

“Floyd’s sister and I, as well as an anonymous person, were willing donors.

His sister and I were found not to be suitable donors.

We are still awaiting an answer on the other potential donor. In the meantime, an eclectic group of family and friends have formed a committee to arouse other potential donors and to help raise the funds needed to help offset Floyd’s out-ofpocket medical costs and to temporarily cover living expenses while he recovers,” explained Holmes.

The family has set a personal fundraising goal $25,000 for Floyd’s transplant- related expenses. Not having the funds immediately available will not preclude him from receiving a transplant should a match come available. Funds received in excess of the establish goal will still be used to pay his transplant related expenses. He will have those types of expenses for the rest of his life due to the need for the anti-rejection and anti-infection medicines.

AWalk-A-Thon, beginning at 9:00 a.m., has been planned for Sept. 10, which will take place on the Marion Jr. High School Campus. Holmes said the committee has received the full support of the Marion School District, the City of Marion, and the Chambers of Commerce for both Marion and West Memphis.

Persons who wish to participate in the Walk-AThon will be able to register online on the NFT website, by mail or on site on the day of the Walk. Detailed information will be provided at a later date as it becomes available. Shirley Strawberry, radio personality with the nationally syndicated “Steve Harvey Morning Show” and author of “The Strawberry Letter” has committed to participate in the event. Committee members include Floyd’s brother, Loutelious Holmes, serving as Chairman, Reena’s brother Daryel Jackson, serving as Co-Chairman, and family friend Sharon Wilson, CPA, acting as Treasurer.

The remaining committee members include Marlon Canady, Coach Nelson Catalina, Stefanie Chandler, Andre and Roshell Coleman, Rev. Otis Davis, Brian Doyle, Lauren & E.

J. Farley, Franklin Fogelman, Rogers Ford, Scott Fraley, Sherry Holliman, Payton Holmes, Daryel Jackson, Debbie Jackson, Delois Jackson, Tamara Jackson, Vickie Robertson, Fred Stuckey, Debra Turk-Johnson and Vanessa Holmes-Weems. Friends of Floyd, not able to actively serve on the committee are working in the background, including Dr. Glen Fenter, Sara Joplin, Ricky Nicks, Angie Weems, Elmer West and Tara Williams.

Anyone wishing to contribute to the cause may do so by making fully tax-deductible donations to the National Foundation for Transplants (NFT) Fund in Floyd Holmes’ name. NFT is a nonprofit organization that assures contributions are used for transplant-related expenses. Anonymous and online gifts can be made on NFT’s secure website http://patients.transplants.or g/floydholmes. Contact NFT at 1-800-489-3863, or (901) 684-1697, or via email at info@transplants.org for more information.

“We would like to thank all of our family and friends and the entire community for such a warm outpouring of love and support,” said Holmes. “The prayers, offers of help, and messages of hope have not gone unnoticed. We have been overwhelmed – in a good way – by the kindness and generosity of everyone. Once we get through this, and we will, we would like to pay it forward to others who find themselves facing a similar fate.”

By Ralph Hardin