Help Scott Miller Get A New Kidney And Pancreas

Debbie, one of my dearest friends and her husband Scott are currently trying to raise funds for kidney and pancreas transplants, which Scott is supposed to receive later this year.

They have a facebook page and a website to tell Scott’s story, to raise awareness and to share information about their fundraising events (right now they have two softball games coming up) and how to donate money.

If you can, please help them – by making a donation or by spreading the word so that it may reach someone else who can help financially.

Debbie was the first friend I made in NYC. We had both just moved to the city and worked together on an independent feature film. Within a year she decided to move back to Atlanta. Even though it’s been almost a decade since she left, we’ve stayed close friends.

It was when I attended her and Scott’s wedding that it became obvious to me that she had been destined to return to Atlanta so that she could meet Scott. They seemed so happy and perfect together – despite all the health and accompanying worries they’ve had to deal with in recent years. They are an amazing team and I truly hope that they will get all the support they need to get Scott healthy and for both of them to finally not have to struggle and worry so much anymore.

From Scott and Debbie’s website:

MY NAME is Scott Miller. I am 39 years old and reside in Atlanta, Georgia. I need your help. I was diagnosed in 1982, at the age of 14, with Type 1 Diabetes (Juvenile Diabetes) and I have struggled with the illness itself and the escalating side-effects for the last 25 years.

In 2006 I received a not entirely unexpected letter from my endocrinologist informing me I was approaching end-stage renal failure. Sure enough, my kidneys soon stopped functioning. […]

The only way for me to survive this illness is to undergo a kidney transplant and, on my doctors’ recommendations, a pancreas transplant. Due to my kidney failure, I have recently been able to acquire insurance through Medicare. However, I am still responsible for 20% out-of-pocket for all medical costs. […]

I have been unable to work for much of the last two years due to my illness and its complications. […] Due to cutbacks, my wife has lost two jobs in her industry – which has been hard hit by the current economic downturn. Because of my costly medical expenses and my inability to produce income our new home, which we purchased just six months before my kidneys failed, was lost in July of 2008.

Thank you for your support.