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Fundraiser Planned for St. George Man Awaiting Transplant

313 views · Published 22 October 2013 · 2:35 · Indexed 30 October 2026

Channel: KUTV 2 News Salt Lake City · 2013 · News & Politics

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(KUTV) From bodybuilding to lying in a hospital bed: a Southern Utah man says his lifelong dedication to fitness is keeping him alive long enough to receive a kidney transplant. They said if I wasn't as strong as I was that I wouldn't have survived all the barrage that happened, said Mark Leatherman. The 45-year-old St. George resident has battled kidney problems since he was diagnosed at age 13 with Berger's disease. Soon after his diagnosis he started bodybuilding at 16 and has focused on his health ever since. I'm a fighter, Leatherman said. I really believed I would not ever have to have a transplant.In 2006, 25 years after his diagnosis, Leatherman's kidneys degraded to the point that dialysis became necessary. Even while undergoing up to 20 hours of dialysis a week, he continued working as a personal trainer. But he had to stop work in January of this year when his condition quickly worsened.Every day was a struggle, said Leatherman's wife, Nicco. There were times he would get up from a sitting position and the room would just spin for him.Nicco says it was hard to watch her husband, who normally excelled at strength and independence, to become weak and require numerous hospitalizations. It was then that the couple reached out to friends and co-workers and let them know what was happening. We're very, very grateful for all the support that we've had, Nicco said, adding the friends have planned fundraisers, cooked meals and helped with yard work while Mark has been sick. People are good here, Mark said. It's amazing how we've had so much support.While the couple awaits confirmation that a family member is a match to be a live kidney donor, they need to raise money to cover about $30,000 in transplant costs not covered by health insurance. The community has planned a fundraising dinner called 5 Courses for a Cause this Wednesday, Oct. 23, at Piccolo Mondo restaurant in St. George. Tickets are $50. To purchase a ticket or for more information on how to donate contact Chad Ferguson at (435) 669-6225 or [email protected] efforts are being organized in conjunction with the National Foundation for Transplants, a nonprofit charity that assists transplant patients with fundraising campaigns. Donations can also be made online by searching for Mark Leatherman at www.transplants.org By Ladd Egan(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcast Group)

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