Recently, I had pleasure to photograph and spend some time with Raymond Thibault and his amazing family. Ray, a retired Providence firefighter, husband and father is in need of a kidney.

He began his treatment a little over a year ago, receiving dialysis 3 days a week about for three-and-a-half hours on each visit, he continues to educate himself and his family about the possibility of receiving a kidney from a living donation. A living donation offers another choice for transplant candidates and opportunity to saves two lives: the recipient and the next one on the deceased organ waiting list.

Ray is a kind and humble guy, who has served his community, helping to save lives for nearly three decades as a firefighter, and his wife Nancy, a nurse for Hasbro Children’s Hospital. Together they have dedicated their lives to serving others who need it most.

For more information on becoming a living kidney donor, please contact: Sarah Gibb, R.N., Living Donor Clinical Coordinator at Rhode Island HospitalTransplant Center 444-3091. Raymond is O blood type. All blood types are needed and considered for others who are in need of a kidney. Donors must be in good health and be over 18 years of age.