My story is one of resilience and determination to stay alive since 2001. I am not someone to ask for help but to have a chance at receiving a new lease on life I have to.
I am a wife and mother of 2 young men. After my youngest was born I was diagnosed with a rare form of kidney failure at the age of 26. This was hereditary and completely out of my control. My children grew up with being familiar with Dr's offices, dialysis and their mom always being sick. They only know their mom as being ill.
In 2005 I received my 1st transplant from a deceased donor. A lady in her late 50's that had died in a car accident. This transplant lasted only 2 years because the transplant center gave me a damaged kidney. Even though I fought for the kidney and my life the kidney was too badly damaged to survive.
With perseverance, I went back on dialysis in 2007 and changed transplant centers and doctors. For over 5 years I continued dialysis treatments until I was offered another deceased donor kidney in 2013. A 31 year old man that had overdosed. Once again, my life was saved by a family that in the time of loss looked beyond themselves to save a stranger. After, having the precious gift of life for almost 6 years in the end of 2018 my kidney needed help and I started monthly treatments to save it. Unfortunately, in March 2019 the kidney failed and I resumed dialysis.
I have been doing dialysis treatments since while looking for a live donor. Since being diagnosed in 2001 and throughout the years this is where you see the good and bad in humanity. People that have known me for years treat me and my family like we have the plague and yet you discover who your true friends are. However, strangers can bring me to tears with their caring words and sentiments.
On a happy note I have a live donor willing to donate on my behalf so I can receive a live donor kidney! He is a young man that went to school with my children. My husband and I watched him grow up to be the young man with a generous soul!
Even though I have a donor, it is not that simple. We are blood matches but he cannot donate his kidney directly to me. Therefor, my transplant center is working to find a kidney donor that is compatible with me. In my case, it may take some time to find a match for me.
The reason for my plea and the need for your help! We live in Central New York and my transplant center is in NYC which is approximately 5 hours from our home. It is very costly to go there with all of the expenses associated with travel, from parking, tolls, gas, food and lodging. My husband is self employed and if he is unable to work we don't have any income. This past year he has worked very little due to me having multiple hospitalizations and long recovery times associated with waiting for a transplant. Also, I have been unable to work since 2012 due to my illness. I am asking for any help so we can afford all of the expenses associated with traveling before, during and after my transplant. Over the years we have never asked for monetary help for the expenses associated with my illness. Unfortunately, a transplant center closer to me is not an option for receiving a successful surgery.
For those of you that have had an illness or know someone with an illness know it can be very costly. Seeing we have been living with this illness for over 23 years we have endured thousands of dollars of expenses with no end in sight. When I was diagnosed we were a young family with no idea of what the future held. We were remodeling an old farm house with great dreams. We faced reality and put those dreams on hold to keep me alive. To date we still have our dreams to finish our home. But our old farm house is not finished, and has no siding. But it is still our home.
We would also like to help cover any expenses for our live donor that is not covered for him. Please know kidney donors get assistance because they are giving the gift of life. Recipient's of organ donations bear all the expenses associated with the process.
I thank you for your time reading my plea for help and please know this is one of the hardest, most humbling things I have done in my life.
