Stand with Lewis Howze

Lewis needs a kidney.

Lewis is a husband, father, grandfather, and friend to many. Somewhere out there is the person who can give him more time with the people who love him. Help us find them.

If you can't donate, please share. You never know whose timeline this lands on.

Portrait of Lewis Howze, a father searching for a kidney donor
Who Lewis is

Before the diagnosis, there was a whole life.

Lewis is a pastor. A husband. A grandfather. The kind of man who stops in the middle of a sentence to hug somebody who needs it. These are real moments from his life. Not staged. Not posed. Just him.

Lewis embracing a brother on the sidewalk — a real moment of impact

"Love your neighbor — out loud, on purpose, on the worst day."

How he lives

Lewis Howze standing in front of The Reach Church

A man of deep faith

Rooted, steady, full of love

Lewis Howze and his wife, celebrating together

Five years with his queen

Still her favorite person

"Won't He do it. Won't He will. Won't He."
In his own words

About Lewis

This is Lewis Howze.

Lewis is the one who answers the phone every time. The one who fixes whatever's broken before you finish asking. The man who shows up at the recital, the cookout, the hospital room, and every quiet Tuesday in between.

Five years ago, his kidneys started to fail. He's lived with it the same way he lives with everything else. Quietly. Faithfully. With that big laugh that fills whatever room he walks into.

He's got a wife who loves him, children and grandbabies who climb in his lap, brothers who count on him, and a whole community praying for his name. We just need one yes.

"Lewis has given his whole life away to other people. We're asking the world to give a little back to him."
His family
Lewis Howze with his whole family at home — kids, grandkids, the people he lives for
Lewis embracing a loved one at church
  1. 01

    2019

    The day everything changed

    A routine checkup. A phone call no family is ready for. The word 'kidney' attached to Lewis's name for the first time.

  2. 02

    2021

    Learning a new normal

    Dialysis became part of his week. He never complained. Not once. He just kept showing up for everybody he loved.

  3. 03

    2024

    Praying for a yes

    A living donor gives him the best chance at the most years. So we're asking. Loudly. Bravely. With our whole hearts.

  4. 04

    Today

    Still believing

    One call. One test. One person willing to say yes. That's all it takes to change Lewis's life forever.

What you need to know

Real answers, no pressure.

If you've ever wondered what it actually means to be a living donor, read this part. We promise to keep it honest and simple.

Donors of every background are welcome. The first step is just learning if you might be a fit.

Blood type we're praying for

O+

Type O donors are the best fit. The transplant team handles the rest of the matching from there.

Start a private inquiry

Transplant team

Our care team works with one of the country's most experienced living donor programs. They guide every donor through every step with a coordinator who's only there for you.

You come first too

A separate medical team is there to look after you, and only you. Your information stays private. You can change your mind any time, for any reason, and nobody will think less of you.

  • Fully confidential
  • All costs covered
  • Lifelong follow up care
The questions people actually ask us

Yes. Living donors go on to live full, active, healthy lives. The kidney you keep grows a little stronger and quietly does the work of both.

It starts with a short, private health questionnaire. If you might be a match, the transplant team takes it from there with blood typing, tissue typing, and a full evaluation. There's no cost to you.

No. The recipient's insurance covers your medical costs. Most programs also help with travel, lodging, and time off work.

Most donors go home in 2 or 3 days and feel back to themselves in about a month. You'll have a team checking in on you the whole way.

Yes. Paired donation lets you give in his name and save another patient who's waiting too. Your kindness still saves a life.

Could it be you?

You don't have to decide today.

Just start the conversation. The transplant team will walk with you, answer everything you're scared to ask, and never push you to do anything you're not ready for.

Ready to start?

Fill out the form below.

Or call Lewis directly: (704) 232-0569

Atrium Health

Ready to be screened?

If you're considering donating, please contact the Atrium Health Living Donor Kidney Transplant Team to start the screening process.

Call (704) 355-6649

Monday–Friday · Confidential · No cost to you

Stand with Lewis

Leave a message. Drop a gift.

Family, friends, church family, strangers turned family — every word and every dollar goes straight to Lewis. We read every single message to him out loud.

Write him something

Your name on his wall of love.

To give a gift, send it through Cash App at $lewishopefund. 100% goes to Lewis's care.
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Carry a little of the weight

Help us keep going.

Every gift goes directly to Lewis. Treatment, medicine, the trips to the transplant center, the gas, the food, the little things that add up when one person you love is sick.

All gifts go through Cash App at $lewishopefund — that's the one and only place. If you can't give, please pray. If you can pray, please share.

Pledge & leave a tribute

Cash App · $lewishopefund

The only place to send a gift. 100% goes to Lewis.

Give on Cash App

Email the family

howzelewis@yahoo.com

Write

Call or text

(704) 232-0569

Call

Follow Lewis on Facebook

Walk this road with him — updates, prayer, encouragement

Follow

The next share could be the one

One post could save Lewis.

The person who can help is out there. A coworker. A friend of a friend. Somebody scrolling tonight. They just haven't seen his face yet. Please help us find them.

Hope still lives here.

If you read this far, you're already part of Lewis's story. Thank you for caring. Thank you for praying. Thank you for being someone he doesn't even know yet who showed up for him today.