By Setarreh Massihzadegan
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

When Leroy Jenkins began dialysis treatments almost two years ago, he was unprepared for the joy that would follow.

Back and forth
Three days a week, Marian Jenkins began bringing her husband to and from his dialysis treatments, and the couple’s friend George Mason took note.

After calling around to friends and neighbors in the community, Mason quickly organized a group of about 30 people who offered to bring Mr. Jenkins to and from his appointments in nearby Weymouth.

"I picked out different people I thought would be willing to help," Mason says. "That isn’t hard to find around here."

To the rescue
Mason soon began what would become a monthly ritual of filling in a calendar with the names of people who had volunteered for the six weekly slots.

Mr. Jenkins was amazed. "[They] transported me back and forth three times a week for 14 months," he says. "I never missed an appointment."

Though Mr. Jenkins is a familiar face at Linden Ponds, where he volunteers at the community’s TV station (LPTV6) and hosts its live sports show, he says he was shocked by the support he received from many people who didn’t know him personally before offering to drive him to his appointments.

"This community is unbelievable. They came to my rescue," he says.

Making a comeback
Fortunately, Mr. Jenkins was able to find a match for a kidney donation—his son, Moses—and underwent a successful kidney transplant earlier this year.

As a means of thanking those who had helped him during his sickness, Mr. Jenkins and his wife later hosted a luncheon of about 100 family members and friends in the catering room at Linden Ponds.

"Most of the people in this room are not related to me, but you’re all like family to me," Mr. Jenkins said at the luncheon.