In 2014, Kendall Patton and his husband Mark Jordan faced a life-threatening diagnosis when Kendall needed liver and kidney transplants. Initially given only three months to live, Kendall needed treatment immediately. CPMC’s Liver Disease and Transplant program didn’t have an opening that quickly, so the CPMC team arranged a transplant for him at the Ochsner Multi-Organ Transplant Institute in New Orleans.

Ever since his return to San Francisco, Kendall says CPMC has given him remarkable care. “The people I’ve seen at every level here have been outstanding, not just in the beginning when I was still very ill, but even today,” says Kendall. “They care about me as a person, my return to good health, and they are always kind and caring.”

Kendall and Mark are profoundly grateful to the dedicated professionals who saved Kendall’s life and, in appreciation, have made a significant commitment in their IRA to fund liver research at CPMC. “It makes us feel good that our investment will help others with liver disease,” says Kendall. “Plus, an IRA gift to a charity is not taxed, so people should consider their IRA funds as the first asset to give to charitable causes they care about. To continue showing our gratitude, we plan to keep our philanthropy flowing to CPMC.”