Let's CHECK-6 for KEVIN WILLIS

Kevin Willis is an Air Force veteran who was medically retired after serving almost 12 years of active duty service. He was deployed to Bagram AB, Afghanistan from July 2003 to November 2003. In December of 2003 during a post deployment medical screening a high amount of protein was found in his urine. He was informed that he need additional test to determine why he had the protein in his urine. In May 2004, he PCS’d to Andrews AFB on a humanitarian assignment as his mom was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer. In July 2005, during his annual physical health assessment, protein was again found in his urine, and he was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease. His illness was controlled and treated with medication, and in July of 2007 Kevin volunteered for a deployment to Iraq. During the pre-deployment medical screening he was informed that he needed to be evaluated via a medical board. On 02 November 2007 Kevin was medically retired. Since retirement, Kevin’s kidney disease has gotten worse. He is now at End Stage Renal Disease, which is Stage V Chronic Kidney Disease. In December of 2013, he was put on the National Kidney Transplant listing. Based on his blood type of O+, the average wait time to receive a transplant is 7-10 years. In April of 2014, Kevin started Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) because his kidney function decreased to less than 10%. The PD required that a catheter be inserted into the peritoneal membrane along the stomach lining. The other end of the catheter exited through the skin in his chest.


Kevin is on the dialysis machine for 9+ hours a day, usually overnight. He also does at least 1 manual dialysis exchange daily, and conduct wound care for the wound he has in his chest. In July of 2016 Kevin had to stop working, because of the effects of the Kidney disease and dialysis. The lack of sleep, swollen joints, chronic fatigue, and a few other issues has made it impossible for Kevin to maintain full time employment. Kevin is currently on waiting list at five different hospitals; Medstar Georgetown, Virginia Commonwealth University Hospital, University of Maryland Hospital, John Hopkins, and University of Virginia Hospital.

Kevin is a huge part of the Stafford/Fredericksburg community. As a youth sports coach with Stafford County Parks & Rec, VAYFA - Virginia American Youth Football Alliance (Stafford Warriors, Stafford Falcons, and Falmouth Tide), Stafford Storm Basketball, and Falmouth Tide Basketball. He continues to coach as he battles his illness. Recently, he was hired as the Head JV Basketball Coach of a local high school.

Kevin helps out where he can by shuttling his kids to and from practices, games, afterschool activities, tutoring plus anything else the kids have going on in the evening. Kevin and his wife currently have 4 kids at home 1 in Kuwait with her dad, and 2 adult children. Kevin is a true American Hero - lets's show our support as he once again finds himself on the battle field.