"I just got a letter from Donald Trump!": Boy asks President for help getting kidney for dad
BURKE COUNTY, NC (FOX 46 WJZY) - A boy from Hickory is doing everything he can to get his sick dad a new kidney.
Fore Putnam says all he wants to do is play football, basketball – you name it – with his dad.
“I've been wanting to get outside and play with him but he usually don't feel good,” Fore said.
Three years ago, Fore’s dad, Trae Putnam, found out he had a rare blood disease that caused his kidneys to fail. He’s on dialysis in desperate need of a transplant.
“It just makes you go from being a normal man to basically just feeling like pretty much like you're helpless,” Trae said.
That’s when his eight-year-old son became dad’s advocate. Fore prayed a lot. Unbeknown to his dad, Fore sent a letter to the most powerful people he knew: Ivanka Trump, President Trump and Santa.
RELATED: Trump responds to 8-year-old Burke County boy trying to help dad get new kidney
“Because that's really the one important thing I really wanted for Christmas,” Fore said.
He read his letter to FOX 46, “Dear Mr. President, my name is Fore Putnam. I am eight years old. My dad has been sick for a long time…”
He pleaded for a kidney, but Christmas came and went. Then the other day, a letter came in the mail. It was from the White House.
“I was really excited,” he said.
Fore ripped it right open and read the letter inside.
"Dear Fore, thank you for sharing your story with me. I'm so sorry to hear that your dad is going through a difficult time,” President Trump wrote. “I have shared your letter with my staff and they are working to see what help they can provide,” Fore continued to read.
The letter ended, “Very best wishes,” and was signed by Donald J Trump.
“I was like, ‘I just got a letter from Donald Trump! That's pretty cool!’” Fore said.
It was the best news they’ve heard in years.
Fore believes his dad will get a new kidney; his dad does too. In fact, he says he’s felt better just knowing the President heard his son’s plea.
The family says they’ve been inundated with calls from people across the United States who want to donate their kidney to Trae. They’re hopeful that sooner or later, the father-son duo will be back outside playing catch in the yard like they used to.
For more information on how to donate, please contact Fore’s mom, Shelia Sherrill at 828-291-7735.