Josh McNally

Gregory Mazzoni Needs A LIVING Kidney DONOR

A man's greatest gift is his ability to help others. Please help Gregg.

It may seem a litle strange writing about a guy I barely know, in fact I've only met him once. But that one brief meeting was very special to me. We were both at an open mic night at the Horseshoe Tavern. Gregg had played there a few times but it was my first time ever playing in public. Gregg did three songs, which is the number each of us is allotted, and what impressed me was they were all songs he had written himself. Nobody does this! Everybody just plays covers of established songs. But Gregg's songs were great. Each one better than the next. I was knocked out.
I had the unenviable task of following him on stage. I had planned on playing three cover songs but after seeing him decided to throw in one of my own. I was awful. I messed up every song I played. Hardly anyone was even listening to me, but I could see Gregg was. After I finished he came up to me and told me he really enjoyed my set and complimented me on the song I wrote. He said he really liked a particular chord change I had in the song. I told him I totally blew every song and I was so nervous playing in front of people I didn't know. He said everybody is nervous, but keep on at it and it will get easier.
He didn't have to do that. This was a guy who did such a great job in his set complimenting someone who was terrible. If you ask me to sum up the kind of person he is, I would say he is kind and generous and went out of his way to do something nice for someone he didn't even know. I offered to buy him a drink, but he said he doesn't drink because he had had a liver transplant. Now, when I heard he needs a kidney transplant on top of that it broke my heart.
My father died of kidney disease many years ago. He was on the list for a deceased donor but didn't live long enough to receive one. The wait time is incredibly long. We couldn't find a living donor willing to help. I myself was incompatible due to an injury I had received prior. I would hate to see the same thing happen to Gregg. He has all the qualities you could possible ask for in a human being. When he performed, he had his son playing with him. He told me that was his greatest thrill was being able to share that with his son.
He released an album this summer called "With a Little Help" and again he had his son playing with him. I immediately bought it from i-Tunes and I have to say its one of my favorite albums ever. He probably doesn't know it, but he has touched a lot of lives.
I know it is the supreme sacrifice to be a living donor. I can't think of anything more special one person can do for another. If you are reading this, you might be one of those special people. If you are considering being a donor, please consider Gregg as the recipient. We all need him around as long as possible.

I talked to some people who know Gregg from the Horseshoe. They all said he doesn't hang around too long after his set, because he needs to get to sleep earlier than most of us. I couldn't see that he was struggling, but he might have been. I know from my father that kidney disease is debilitating. It eats away at a person. I don't want to see that happen to Gregg. I urge anyone who is willing to be a donor to help him.

I'm not on Facebook or any other social media, but if you are and are reading this please post it and spread the word. You never know who might see it, Maybe it will be someone willing to help. Please help Gregg.

Previous Next