Navy Veteran, Mike Hodge, in need of a kidney

Published 3:14 pm Monday, October 10, 2022

BY C.Y. Peters

Star Correspondent

Ten years ago, Mike Hodge lost his leg. Today, he’s fighting for his life.

A staph infection led to 10 surgeries and the eventual amputation. Then, he was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease, an inherited condition which leads to kidney failure.

With only 10 percent kidney function, Hodge has been on dialysis for three and a half years while he waits for a transplant.

Now, friends and coworkers are helping raise funds to support Hodge through the expensive process and throughout his life.

In 2021 the average list cost for a kidney transplant was $143,500 and this number goes up every year. Hodge set a personal goal of raising $15,000 to help offset the transplant costs, many of which aren’t covered by insurance. Hodge has raised $8,073.05 so far, and an upcoming wrestling tournament will also benefit his fundraising efforts.

Carter County Sports Hall of Fame has teamed up with Unaka Principal Mike Ensor and Athletic Director Wes Wright to host a wrestling show at Unaka High School on Saturday, Oct. 22. Local businesses have helped sponsored the show through advertising, and all ticket sales will benefit Hodge. Amarr, through Rocky Top Garage Doors, sponsored the tickets. The wrestling events begin at 7:30 p.m. and five main events have been scheduled, one of them a heavyweight title match. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Hodge and some of the wrestlers plan on attending some schools with tickets for the students.Tickets are $10 for General Admission and $2 for parking. Anyone needing tickets or schools can contact Charles Peters at peters5@charter.net or Mike Hodge on Facebook.

Hodge is a U.S. Navy man who joined right out of high school in 1991. He spent four years in the Navy and has a son Eli, who attends the University of Tennessee. Hodge said living with kidney disease is a constant challenge. He takes about 10 pills a day, including taking medicine every time he eats. The money he raised will not only help with the kidney but the medicine he will have to take for the rest of his life.

Hodge has been a member of the New Liberty Freewill Baptist Church for over 30 years and works part-time for the Carter County School system as a substitute teacher.

For now, he must remain within four hours of U.T. Knoxville or Wake Forest — both locations which can conduct kidney transplants — in case he gets the life-saving call that a donor kidney has been found. He has his backpack packed and ready to go.