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Robert Icard is thankful for the pouring out of support in response to his medical need.

Icard is awaiting a kidney transplant and with the support of his family and friends, not to mention his church Mount Pleasant United Methodist, the waiting and tension is eased.

Icard is on dialysis now and is at home but about a year ago, he found out that his kidney function was too low.

He says that the kidney problems have gone undetected in the past and now he’s in need of a transplant.

He visits his doctor a couple times a month and goes to Columbia Nephrology. In addition, he must visit his regular doctor for physicals and maintain being on medications, which he says is quite expensive.

He also notes that there is the travel and miscellaneous expenses related with travel such as hotel stays, etc.

Dialysis is expensive, he points out.

Luckily, Icard says he has pretty good insurance and the National Kidney Foundation have been a great aid.

His wife also helps out by going to doctor’s appointments when she can. Luckily, Robin Icard, is free for the summer since she works at Gallman Elementary.

She maintains that he’s fairly healthy enough to go to appointments while she was at work during the school year.

While Robert Icard did have to take some time off from work, he is now officially retired as of July 1 from the S.C. Department of Transportation.

He’s thankful for his church putting up a kidney transplant fund in his name.

Robin mentions that Willie Morris was instrumental in setting up the fund and people may contact the church to donate to the Robert Icard Kidney Transplant Fund.

Checks should be made out to the church with the memo line referencing Robert Icard. Robin Icard also notes that if they need money for expenses, they cannot just get the money out themselves.

Robert Icard notes that if it weren’t for insurance, he probably would not be considered for a transplant.

He is on the waiting list at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston and hopes to be on the waiting list at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta.

Robert Icard actually just went for tests at the Augusta hospital on Wednesday and says that there are are plenty of tests and medical procedures to run before they put someone on a waiting list.

He also notes that if people want to be a living donor, they must undergo tests to make sure they are health enough.

His wife says that the waiting list for a deceased donor’s organ is two to five years and the living donor list is shorter.

Robert Icard says he is so appreciative of the support from his family, friends, church and even coworkers and says that undergoing something like this requires a lot of support. He also says, smiling, that his wife keeps him straight.

It’s obvious that a sense of humor is important to keep and if people are interested in becoming a living donor, they may contact the Living Donor Coordinator at the August hospital.

Robert Icard says doctors have told him that donors are down and he’s not the only one in need.

Being a living donor is of no cost to the person donating, says Robert Icard who notes that his insurance will take care of everything. That person would be out for about a week, he points out.

As for what Mt. Pleasant U.M.C. is doing, a barbecue fundraiser is being held July 28 at the church form 5-7 p.m. There will also be a bazaar on Sept. 29 to assist with expenses.

Robert Icard says that he will definitely try to be at the fundraiser this month and he’ll even help out with the cooking.