Local man hopes for another chance

Local Pocomoke native and cancer survivor Leonard Brown found out earlier this year he would need a kidney transplant. The news he said was hard to swallow, but now the medical bills have built up for his dialysis and Brown needs help paying them.   

His friend Roy Cuffee, who is engaged to Brown’s sister, said he also took the news of Brown’s condition hard. Cuffee said he’s hopeful people his soon to be brother-in-law will pull through and get a kidney donor sooner than later, because Brown is one of his good friends.

 “A big heart, a big sense of humor, fisherman, good cook all in all a good friend,” Cuffee said of his friend Brown.

Brown, who is also diabetic, found out in February after suffering a seizure that put in him in a coma for three days hat his kidneys were failing. When doctors told him he’d need the transplant, Brown said he was scared.

“Personally I was scared to death. I cried for about two days and then I got over it and realized it was something else that I have to deal with,” Brown said.

Brown’s family said they also took the news hard.  

“I mean it shocked me I was crying a little bit but I just got to hold it in you got to be strong,” said Brown’s son Shyhen.

Brown’s mother, Jean, said she’s fearful of losing her child.

“When he was 18 he had cancer, he survived that and now to have a kidney problem that really bothers me because that’s my only son I really don’t want to lose him,” Jean said.

Now over two months into Dialysis treatment, Brown’s family wonders how much longer they can afford it.

“He worked his behind off all his life and now he doesn’t have anything to show for it because he has to spend 30,000 dollars on something,” Shyhen said.

The family set up a cookout fundraiser to help fund the costly medical bills on Sunday and told 47 ABC they raised $200.