Hi. My name is Ray Minarovic. I’m a loving partner, proud son, and I’ve been able to dedicate my career to the environment, cleaning up our soil, water, and air to safeguard the health of whole communities. Unfortunately, my health has deteriorated, and it’s not from pollution or contamination. I’m making this video because my kidneys have failed and I’m in urgent need of a kidney transplant.

For most of my life I’ve been the picture of health. If I look like a football player, it’s because I played during college. Up until recently you could find me in the gym six days a week. Living a healthy lifestyle has always been important to me. Unfortunately, I have had a kidney disease called Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis probably since I was in my twenties, but I just didn't know until 2013. By then all I could do was slow its progression with blood pressure medications, until this last January when I had to start dialysis.

I do dialysis every day for about nine hours to stay alive. I’m grateful that I can do it, but dialysis does a fraction of what a kidney does. It’s exhausting, it’s painful — I feel chronically sick — a shell of my former self.

I know I look like a tough guy on the outside, but really, inside I have a big heart. I cry during sappy movies, I love animals, and care deeply for the people in my life. I want to be present for my partner Amy, for her children who I adore, for my parents as they get older, and continue to make a difference in the environment we all share. A kidney from a living donor would allow me to do these things, and it would save my life.

Unfortunately, the people closest to me are ineligible to donate. I know donating a kidney isn’t a small ask. You can help me by sharing this video.