In Support of Justin Lepri
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Help Justin get the second chance that he deserves! He Needs a KIDNEY—and the SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY!
If you know Justin, you already know what a special person he is. He’s a gifted young man with a big heart. He notices all the little things, has an incredible imagination, and is creative and artistic. He loves nature, photography, videography and the outdoors. He’s amazing with children, and our friends love bringing their little ones around him. His silliness, carefree spirit, and resilience have carried him through more than anyone should ever have to face.
This past May, just weeks before high school graduation, our lives were forever changed.
Instead of our 19 year old celebrating the final moments and milestones of his Senior Year and looking forward to his future, Justin was hospitalized and diagnosed with advanced Stage 5 kidney failure.
We later learned that Justin’s kidney disease is the result of a very rare and complex genetic disorder—a lifelong condition that, without any obvious warning signs, had damaged his kidneys for many years. By the time it was discovered, his kidney function had already declined to a critical level.
Justin needs a kidney, and he needs our help.
Despite everything he’s facing, Justin continues to amaze us. Even while dealing with extreme exhaustion, doctor appointments, treatments, and the uncertainty of what lies ahead, he still finds ways to be playful, silly, and make us laugh.
It’s hard to imagine how much his body was fighting while maintaining the schedule and workload of an average student. Even after becoming seriously ill, Justin was determined to make it to his graduation. Only days after coming home from the hospital, he proudly walked across that stage and graduated!
His teachers were so proud of him. You can tell they genuinely cared for Justin, and he’s made such an impact in their lives. When Justin was in the hospital his teachers all visited him and brought encouraging notes and gifts. It was so kind and meant so much to us.
Many of our family members, friends, and colleagues have been such a support for our family, and we are so thankful!
As a parent, watching your child suffer while knowing you can’t simply fix it has been heartbreaking beyond words.
We are grateful for our health insurance, but the financial burden of this journey is already growing. As Justin’s medical needs become more complex, so do the expenses—and we are asking our community to help our family carry some of that weight.
Kidney disease has changed Justin’s life in ways we never imagined. For years, he’s endured physical and emotional challenges. His kidneys were not the first part of his body to be affected by this disease. His endocrine system and hormone function have long been significantly impacted. And because this condition can affect multiple major systems throughout his body, he will continue to face the uncertainty of what the future may hold.
But we remain optimistic and confident that he can get through this.
Justin has already begun an overwhelming journey of frequent appointments, treatments, and ongoing medical care. We are dedicated to giving our son the best chance possible.
There is no cure for Justin’s underlying disease, but there is always hope!
Recently, we received news we had been praying for. Justin was accepted onto the National Kidney Transplant Waiting List.
That was an enormous step forward, but it also marks the beginning of a different kind of waiting. While being listed brings us great relief and hope, the wait could take many years. A living donor could dramatically shorten his wait and extend his quality of life.
Justin’s Care Team has strongly encouraged us to search for a living donor because without a transplant in time, our son will need to begin dialysis—a life-saving treatment that requires critical daily care and would bring even more significant challenges to his young life.
Could you be the person who helps give Justin his second chance?
We are praying that God sends us the perfect donor. We believe that God has given us a spare to share, and we’re hopeful there is someone special out there willing and able to become Justin’s living donor.
A donor could give Justin something far greater than a kidney. They could give him a chance at a full life and a hopeful future.
If you are interested in learning more about becoming a living donor, you can complete the donor questionnaire linked below. Potential donors must be 18, in good physical and mental health, and have blood type A or O.
There is absolutely no pressure or expectation. Just considering becoming a donor is an incredibly selfless act of kindness, and our transplant team will determine whether someone is medically eligible. All of the donor’s medical expenses would be fully covered by our health insurance.
If you’re unable to donate a kidney, you can still help in a way that is incredibly meaningful.
Raising funds for Justin would help with:
- Co-pays
- Deductibles
- Medications
- Frequent travel to and from Gainesville
- Specialist appointments
- Medical testing and lab work
- Transplant surgery
- Post-op care and recovery
- And other expenses that come with a long-term medical journey
We don’t exactly know what the road ahead looks like, but we do know that we want to spend less time worrying about affording medical expenses—and more time simply being there for our son.
We have set a goal of $100,000 to help prepare for the many out-of-pocket medical related expenses Justin will face throughout this on-going journey.
This is not Justin’s whole story, and it doesn’t define who he is. He is a young man with his whole life ahead of him. We believe in our son’s ability to get through this, and we know there will be more milestones, more memories, more experiences, and more opportunities just waiting for him on the other side of all of this.
If you are able to donate, please know that every contribution, regardless of the amount, will help carry some of this weight from our family and allow us to focus more on Justin, his health, and his future.
If you aren’t able to donate, please share Justin’s story. Your share could help us reach more people who may help Justin—and possibly save his life.
We are walking through one of the most difficult seasons of our lives, but we are holding onto hope. We believe in the power of prayer, the kindness of strangers, and the incredible generosity of our community coming together for one young man.
Please help us give Justin the second chance he deserves.
THANK YOU for walking beside Justin and our family.
Your generosity, prayers, messages, kindness, and support mean more to our family than you could ever know.
With our deepest gratitude,
The Lepri Family
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- Created Aug 24, 2026
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