Heart For A Kidney
Donation protected
My little sister, Lilly, is in dire need of kidney transplant (with O + or O – blood)!
The reason for this fund is to help her with increasing medical bills and basic living expenses such as money for food, bills and car essentials for transportation to her dialysis appointments. Due to her dialysis treatment for kidney failure, Lilly is no longer able to maintain a steady job and must instead focus on her life-preserving treatment 100%. Any donation is GREATLY appreciated and will make a HUGE difference in her life!
Liliana Hernandez is 23 years old and was born in Sylmar, CA. She was diagnosed with kidney failure in September of 2011 from a rare condition known as IgA Nephropathy (Bergers Dis-ease). When the doctor delivered the news to her at UCLA Santa Monica Hospital, he recommended a kidney transplant within 6 months as she was already in Stage 4 of chronic kidney failure. To preserve what was left of her kidneys (GFR kidney function of 28%) Lilly changed her entire lifestyle and switched to a vegan diet—minimizing protein, sodium and potassium as much as possible. She also began juicing, practicing yoga & meditation daily and avoided little things such as plastic, processed foods and even drinking with meals. As a result, Lilly sustained her kidney function for 3 years without the need for dialysis or a transplant.
Unfortunately, despite her best efforts, her GFR kidney function gradually and inevitably continued to decline. In early September of this year, doctors revealed that she was now in State 4 of her condition, known as End Stage Renal Failure, with a GFR of only 12%. On September 16th, 2014, while teaching her Tuesday night yoga class at the park, Lilly was feeling extremely ill, stressed out and completely overwhelmed with everything as living expenses, working 3 jobs and struggling with chronic fatigue began to take its toll. One of her students could feel that something wasn't right and told her, "Whatever it is you're dealing with, I hope it all works out. You just have to Let Go and go with the Flow." Those words still stick with her to this day. Lilly had been hesitant to go to the doctor in fear of finally starting dialysis—a treatment that requires complete surrender to the help of her UCLA medical team and total commitment to a completely different lifestyle.
That night, Lilly called her parents and went to the hospital. She was admitted immediately, operated on the following day and quickly began dialysis treatment as her GFR kidney function was at 8%! Lilly believes that if she had waited any longer to go to the hospital, she probably would not be alive today. She now undergoes dialysis treatment 3 times a week via a catheter inserted into her right chest which connects directly to her heart. Her appointments are from 3am to 6 am every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Dialysis treatment demands a completely different lifestyle from the one Lilly followed after her initial diagnosis in 2011. Literally overnight, she had no choice but to abandon her vegan diet as the risk of infection is so high that she MUST eat meat protein to boost immunity and ONLY white flour & processed foods with very little fruits and veggies to keep her mineral levels under control. Additionally, she must limit all fluids, including water, and resort to ice cubes and hard candy to help quench her thirst. On October 14, 2014, Lilly underwent another surgical procedure to receive dialysis through her arm because the temporary heart catheter involves such extremely high risks. She is now recovering from this surgery and is unable to use her right arm for about 6 weeks.
Despite all of this, Lilly continues to love life, laugh loud and pursue her passions as a professional model and certified yoga instructor. She taught a yoga class just last week and these photos were taken only 3 days before her most recent surgery. As you can see, Lilly is looking beautiful and radiant as ever! As her older sister, I am in complete awe and I marvel at her strength, courage, and optimism for the future. Every single day, I witness Lilly LET GO of that which she cannot control and instead, FLOW with whatever life throws at her. She is my greatest source of inspiration. She has suffered so much but ALWAYS finds a reason to laugh, smile, and show gratitude for everyday that she is given! Lilly shines brighter than the SUN!
I hope you will find it in your heart to help Lilly so that she may continue to focus on healing without the added stress of her ever-increasing medical bills and basic costs of living. Dialysis is a life-long treatment UNLESS we can find a willing and matching kidney donor with O + or O – blood. Lilly is on the national donor waiting list, but we are told that it may take up to 8 years to find a match due to her rare blood type.
If your heart is open to the possibility of donating a part of yourself, please consider giving blood at your local Red Cross to find out your blood type in 1-2 days. If you are a match, (O+ or O-), please take the next step and call the UCLA donation center at 1-866-672-5333 or simply complete the UCLA Living Donor Form at the link below to inquire about donating your kidney—a gift of MAGNIFICENT GENEROSITY!!!
http://transplants.ucla.edu/workfiles/kidneydonor/DonorIntakeEnglish_0411.pdf
Full name: Liliana Monique Hernandez
DOB: 4/17/1991
You may also email us directly with any questions regarding how to inquire about donating your kidney or how you can help us to spread the word about Lilly so that she may find a donor ASAP!
Email us to join Team Lilly at [email redacted]
To make an appointment with Red Cross, please visit: http://www.redcrossblood.org/make-donation-v6
Or Call 1-800-RED-CROSS / 1-800-733-2767
Your donation will make a HUGE difference in the life of this young, talented, beautiful, passionate and inspirational woman that is Liliana Hernandez! On behalf of my entire family and from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU SO MUCH for showing your support!!!
The reason for this fund is to help her with increasing medical bills and basic living expenses such as money for food, bills and car essentials for transportation to her dialysis appointments. Due to her dialysis treatment for kidney failure, Lilly is no longer able to maintain a steady job and must instead focus on her life-preserving treatment 100%. Any donation is GREATLY appreciated and will make a HUGE difference in her life!
Liliana Hernandez is 23 years old and was born in Sylmar, CA. She was diagnosed with kidney failure in September of 2011 from a rare condition known as IgA Nephropathy (Bergers Dis-ease). When the doctor delivered the news to her at UCLA Santa Monica Hospital, he recommended a kidney transplant within 6 months as she was already in Stage 4 of chronic kidney failure. To preserve what was left of her kidneys (GFR kidney function of 28%) Lilly changed her entire lifestyle and switched to a vegan diet—minimizing protein, sodium and potassium as much as possible. She also began juicing, practicing yoga & meditation daily and avoided little things such as plastic, processed foods and even drinking with meals. As a result, Lilly sustained her kidney function for 3 years without the need for dialysis or a transplant.
Unfortunately, despite her best efforts, her GFR kidney function gradually and inevitably continued to decline. In early September of this year, doctors revealed that she was now in State 4 of her condition, known as End Stage Renal Failure, with a GFR of only 12%. On September 16th, 2014, while teaching her Tuesday night yoga class at the park, Lilly was feeling extremely ill, stressed out and completely overwhelmed with everything as living expenses, working 3 jobs and struggling with chronic fatigue began to take its toll. One of her students could feel that something wasn't right and told her, "Whatever it is you're dealing with, I hope it all works out. You just have to Let Go and go with the Flow." Those words still stick with her to this day. Lilly had been hesitant to go to the doctor in fear of finally starting dialysis—a treatment that requires complete surrender to the help of her UCLA medical team and total commitment to a completely different lifestyle.
That night, Lilly called her parents and went to the hospital. She was admitted immediately, operated on the following day and quickly began dialysis treatment as her GFR kidney function was at 8%! Lilly believes that if she had waited any longer to go to the hospital, she probably would not be alive today. She now undergoes dialysis treatment 3 times a week via a catheter inserted into her right chest which connects directly to her heart. Her appointments are from 3am to 6 am every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Dialysis treatment demands a completely different lifestyle from the one Lilly followed after her initial diagnosis in 2011. Literally overnight, she had no choice but to abandon her vegan diet as the risk of infection is so high that she MUST eat meat protein to boost immunity and ONLY white flour & processed foods with very little fruits and veggies to keep her mineral levels under control. Additionally, she must limit all fluids, including water, and resort to ice cubes and hard candy to help quench her thirst. On October 14, 2014, Lilly underwent another surgical procedure to receive dialysis through her arm because the temporary heart catheter involves such extremely high risks. She is now recovering from this surgery and is unable to use her right arm for about 6 weeks.
Despite all of this, Lilly continues to love life, laugh loud and pursue her passions as a professional model and certified yoga instructor. She taught a yoga class just last week and these photos were taken only 3 days before her most recent surgery. As you can see, Lilly is looking beautiful and radiant as ever! As her older sister, I am in complete awe and I marvel at her strength, courage, and optimism for the future. Every single day, I witness Lilly LET GO of that which she cannot control and instead, FLOW with whatever life throws at her. She is my greatest source of inspiration. She has suffered so much but ALWAYS finds a reason to laugh, smile, and show gratitude for everyday that she is given! Lilly shines brighter than the SUN!
I hope you will find it in your heart to help Lilly so that she may continue to focus on healing without the added stress of her ever-increasing medical bills and basic costs of living. Dialysis is a life-long treatment UNLESS we can find a willing and matching kidney donor with O + or O – blood. Lilly is on the national donor waiting list, but we are told that it may take up to 8 years to find a match due to her rare blood type.
If your heart is open to the possibility of donating a part of yourself, please consider giving blood at your local Red Cross to find out your blood type in 1-2 days. If you are a match, (O+ or O-), please take the next step and call the UCLA donation center at 1-866-672-5333 or simply complete the UCLA Living Donor Form at the link below to inquire about donating your kidney—a gift of MAGNIFICENT GENEROSITY!!!
http://transplants.ucla.edu/workfiles/kidneydonor/DonorIntakeEnglish_0411.pdf
Full name: Liliana Monique Hernandez
DOB: 4/17/1991
You may also email us directly with any questions regarding how to inquire about donating your kidney or how you can help us to spread the word about Lilly so that she may find a donor ASAP!
Email us to join Team Lilly at [email redacted]
To make an appointment with Red Cross, please visit: http://www.redcrossblood.org/make-donation-v6
Or Call 1-800-RED-CROSS / 1-800-733-2767
Your donation will make a HUGE difference in the life of this young, talented, beautiful, passionate and inspirational woman that is Liliana Hernandez! On behalf of my entire family and from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU SO MUCH for showing your support!!!
Organizer
Vanessa Romero
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
