John “PJ” Morbeto, a 14-year-old boy, is quite the Warrior considering his many battles in the course of the declining of his kidney function. The first of nine blessings, John was born with a blockage in his bladder which caused urine to back up into his kidneys – damaging more than half the nephrons. There was no real way to predict just when trouble would surface. While he appears to be fine, his blood labs show the colossal struggle his kidneys are now suffering. John and his tightly knit family are now racing to find assistance and have things in place so John will be ready when a kidney becomes available.

John, a homeschooled student, likes writing and reading medieval histories rich with knights battling in campaigns. A favorite hobby of his is producing animations using Legos: setting up characters, taking a picture and then moving them slightly to take another picture, repeatedly. He then adds music and sound effects to his animations.

John has a positive attitude and great love for his parents and siblings. He doesn’t like his problem to affect them and would rather be in the place of serving and protecting them than having to be so closely looked after. The experience is very humbling for him. He has dreams of being around to attend to his aging parents in future years and hopes this dream will come to pass as a result of a successful kidney transplant. John and his parents are working with the Children’s Organ Transplant Association to assist with a lifetime of transplant related expenses, including living donor expenses.

Extended stays in the area where the transplant hospital is located,traveling expenses for appointments, an air ambulance when John is placed with a kidney, anti-rejection medications, dental copays, special needs diet, vehicle rentals, the probable need for a second transplant in years to come and other related transplant expenses can add up to a total that can be quite discouraging if it wasn’t for COTA and the compassionate people who are willing to extend a helping hand and be a good Samaritan to a grateful family. Please consider donating to COTA in honor of John by clicking the GIVE button.