Justin Malik Gillespie is a young man that is battling a rare kidney disease called Nephrotic Syndrome. He is also battling heart failure due to pneumonia placing him in another circumstance where he will need a kidney transplant and a possible heart transplant. The kidney transplant is a must and if the medication and limited exercise does not improve his heart, a heart transplant will be required as well. Nephrotic Syndrome is a kidney disorder that is often caused by damage to the small blood vessels in the kidneys that filters and excess from the blood. For Justin all this was brought on by an infection, such as something as simple as a common cold or a cut.

          Justin is the son of Garnisha Mason and Robert Gillespie III. He was diagnosed with his rare kidney disease on May 21, 2021 — the day before his senior prom. Needless to say, he didn’t get to go due to being admitted to the hospital and rushed to emergency dialysis.  He was in the hospital for 6 days and was discharged 1 day before his 18^th Birthday.  Justin made history as the youngest dialysis patient at the US Rental Center in Muncie where he has to have three 4-hour treatments 3 days a week. Surely not the way anyone would want to spend their 18^th Birthday. The following Friday, Justin was readmitted to the hospital diagnosed with phenomena and was discharged the day before his Muncie Central High School Graduation. He was able to walk across the stage and receive his diploma in front of family and friends. Since then, Justin has been in and out of the hospital due to fluid accumulating in his lungs due to his 75% of kidney not functioning.  Justin will have to have a kidney transplant and continue to be strong.

In recent visits after changing to IU Health in Indianapolis, we were informed that Justin’s heart is not beating strong enough to even have a kidney transplant. If Justin’s heart didn’t improve he would’ve had to have a heart transplant.

The strength of this young man while going through this unfortunate life-altering circumstance has been remarkable and encouraging. Regardless of what we are going through, we as a community and Justin should and will never give up. Justin is my one and only son and my absolute world.

Being as young as Justin is, he never wants to hear:

*Get some rest, Justin! (Reality – dialysis is known to drain patients)

*Hope you feel better soon, Justin! (Reality – This a chronic disease and can last for years or lifelong with or without transplants)

*I know what you’re going through, Justin! (Reality – If you haven’t had a kidney transplant or heart failure, a person really doesn’t know)

          Observing Justin throughout this process has taught myself and others so much about this young man. Justin is one of the strongest young men we know. I’m not just saying this because I’m biased (being Mama Bear and all), I’m saying this because it took him several weeks to cry and have a breakdown to realize what he was actually going through. Being depressed and saying and feeling like his life is over and questioning, why him? I also learned that Justin has a heart of gold and will do anything for anybody. He has respect for others and will sometimes tell you the truth that you don’t want to hear but need to hear. There hasn’t been a nurse or doctor that had assisted with Justin’s medical process that hasn’t highly praised his manners, strength and behavior. It showed that myself, his dad and our village has raised this young man right.

          We have partnered with the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) for assistance with transplant-related expenses. Thank you in advance for any donations to COTA in honor of Justin. We will schedule several events in the future and will keep all updates and information available on this website. Your generosity is more than appreciated and will be helpful in making the COTA for Justin Strong campaign a success.

The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) helps children and young adults who need a life-saving transplant by providing fundraising assistance and family support. COTA is the nation’s only fundraising organization solely dedicated to raising life-saving dollars in honor of transplant-needy children and young adults. 100% of each contribution made to COTA in honor of our patients helps meet transplant-related expenses. COTA’s services are free to our families, and gifts to COTA are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.