Elaine's Kidney Transplant Crusade
Donation protected
Elaine’s Kidney Transplant Crusade
Change in our lives can come in many ways. It may present itself as a devastating tragedy, difficult choices and even new opportunities. My name is Elaine Villanueva and I am 39 years old. In February of 2017, I encountered the most difficult and highly unexpected change of my life. I was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease, which means my kidneys are failing. I was brought to the ER because I was experiencing shortness of breath and my legs were extremely swollen. After a series of blood tests, CT scans, and medications to stabilize my outrageously high blood pressure, I was told my kidneys were failing and were at 5% functioning capacity. I was lucky to have come into the ER when I did.
I had to have emergency dialysis through a non-tunneled catheter placed in a large vein in my neck. After five days in the hospital the catheter in my neck was changed to a different location in my chest for longer term use. I was stable enough to go home and start routine hemodialysis treatments three days a week. Unfortunately, I did not tolerate dialysis well. I experienced many of the side effects of dialysis such as nausea, weakness, body aches and many bouts of my blood pressure dropping to dangerously low levels. I also have the misfortune of developing blood clots during dialysis treatments, which the majority of the time would cut my treatments short.
Just when I started absorbing the fact that dlaysis would be an unavoidable part of of my routine to prolong my life, I was hit hard with an extreme obstacle- pneumonia and sepsis both at the same time. I was hospitalized for two weeks and had to endure numerous blood tests, x-rays, various scans, ultrasounds and surgical procedures. I was placed on multiple antibiotics to fight off my infections. The catheter in my chest was taken out and placed in another area on my chest to help narrow down the source of my infection. Although I was extremely weak, I was sent home to continue dialysis and start planning for surgery for a more permanent dialysis access in my arm. Unfortunately, having to endure my ongoing recovery from pneumonia and sepsis, I experienced a dangerous setback during dialysis treatment in which many blood clots had formed and my treatment was stopped abruptly which prevented my blood from being returned into my body. As a result , I had to have two blood transfusions immediately due to extremely low levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit in my blood.
A few weeks later, I was hit hard with another bout of pneumonia and sepsis and hospitalized for another 2 weeks. My body couldn’t catch a break-not fully recovered from my previous hospitalization. Another round of numerous surgical procedures, blood tests, x-rays, ultrasounds, and scans. What made it worse was that the catheter in my chest was moved again to two different places on the other side of my chest. I was sent home with oxygen therapy. I could not do anything without being on oxygen.
My breathing did not improve as well as expected with dialysis and oxygen therapy. A series of chest x-rays had shown that the fluid had accumulated in both my lungs and did no subside with dialysis or medication. The amount of fluid in my lungs made it extremely difficult to breath in any position especially lying down which made sleeping a difficult task. My most comfortable option was sleeping sitting up. As a result of the accumulating fluid in my lungs, the medical staff has decided that the fluid must be drained. I went through three rounds of procedures in which a needle was inserted through my back to tap into my lungs to drain the fluid. After all procedures, a total of 3 liters of fluid was removed from both lungs.
Through one of the CT scans taken, a very large mass was discovered on my left ovary in addition to a smaller growth on the right . The left tumor definitely had to be removed because it not only caused crippling back pain , but because the chances of it being cancerous were high. My heart dropped. I was devastated. On top of all the medical conditions I have endured, now a possible cancer scare? I made the difficult decision to have a total hysterectomy. Fear and sadness set in after realizing I would be placed into surgical menopause and the possibility of having children were gone. The doctors did not want to schedule any surgeries until I had graduated from oxygen therapy and my health was more stable.
In August 2017, I was stable enough to have both surgeries for my hysterectomy and fistula for permanent dialysis access in my arm.The first week in August I had my hysterectomy surgery. It went well and no cancer was found. Exactly one week later, I had surgery to create a dialysis access in my arm. Due to scar tissue and blood clots, the fistula that was created did not stay open and failed to heal correctly. Another surgery was scheduled in September 2017, which was successful and matured well.
Having suffered through exhausting life threatening health conditions, working through overwhelming emotional, and spiritual hurdles was very traumatic and stressful.
Through the love and generosity of my cousin who has selflessly volunteered to be my kidney donor, I have been given the opportunity to prolong my life. My goal is to raise funds to help my family as they team together to support my cousin and I during this challenging time. This fundraising effort is to help offset the ever increasing costs of co-pays, medical bills, lifelong medications, doctor visits, living and travel expenses, missed work days and any unforeseen expenses.
My cousin has a husband and two young children. Part of my goal is to help provide some financial assistance for her family as well as my own during this difficult time as they take the time to care for my cousin and i post surgery. As my cousin takes time off work to recover in the weeks after surgery, part of the funds raised will be used to help alleviate some of the financial burdens they may encounter. I hate having to ask for assistance, but for a life saving situation like this, I want to make sure all parties involved are comfortable and not have to bear the weight of financial burdens.
Any help would be appreciated. Thank you to everyone in advance for your support, thoughts and prayers. I only ask if you cannot donate, please help spread the word and share this post.
Change in our lives can come in many ways. It may present itself as a devastating tragedy, difficult choices and even new opportunities. My name is Elaine Villanueva and I am 39 years old. In February of 2017, I encountered the most difficult and highly unexpected change of my life. I was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease, which means my kidneys are failing. I was brought to the ER because I was experiencing shortness of breath and my legs were extremely swollen. After a series of blood tests, CT scans, and medications to stabilize my outrageously high blood pressure, I was told my kidneys were failing and were at 5% functioning capacity. I was lucky to have come into the ER when I did.
I had to have emergency dialysis through a non-tunneled catheter placed in a large vein in my neck. After five days in the hospital the catheter in my neck was changed to a different location in my chest for longer term use. I was stable enough to go home and start routine hemodialysis treatments three days a week. Unfortunately, I did not tolerate dialysis well. I experienced many of the side effects of dialysis such as nausea, weakness, body aches and many bouts of my blood pressure dropping to dangerously low levels. I also have the misfortune of developing blood clots during dialysis treatments, which the majority of the time would cut my treatments short.
Just when I started absorbing the fact that dlaysis would be an unavoidable part of of my routine to prolong my life, I was hit hard with an extreme obstacle- pneumonia and sepsis both at the same time. I was hospitalized for two weeks and had to endure numerous blood tests, x-rays, various scans, ultrasounds and surgical procedures. I was placed on multiple antibiotics to fight off my infections. The catheter in my chest was taken out and placed in another area on my chest to help narrow down the source of my infection. Although I was extremely weak, I was sent home to continue dialysis and start planning for surgery for a more permanent dialysis access in my arm. Unfortunately, having to endure my ongoing recovery from pneumonia and sepsis, I experienced a dangerous setback during dialysis treatment in which many blood clots had formed and my treatment was stopped abruptly which prevented my blood from being returned into my body. As a result , I had to have two blood transfusions immediately due to extremely low levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit in my blood.
A few weeks later, I was hit hard with another bout of pneumonia and sepsis and hospitalized for another 2 weeks. My body couldn’t catch a break-not fully recovered from my previous hospitalization. Another round of numerous surgical procedures, blood tests, x-rays, ultrasounds, and scans. What made it worse was that the catheter in my chest was moved again to two different places on the other side of my chest. I was sent home with oxygen therapy. I could not do anything without being on oxygen.
My breathing did not improve as well as expected with dialysis and oxygen therapy. A series of chest x-rays had shown that the fluid had accumulated in both my lungs and did no subside with dialysis or medication. The amount of fluid in my lungs made it extremely difficult to breath in any position especially lying down which made sleeping a difficult task. My most comfortable option was sleeping sitting up. As a result of the accumulating fluid in my lungs, the medical staff has decided that the fluid must be drained. I went through three rounds of procedures in which a needle was inserted through my back to tap into my lungs to drain the fluid. After all procedures, a total of 3 liters of fluid was removed from both lungs.
Through one of the CT scans taken, a very large mass was discovered on my left ovary in addition to a smaller growth on the right . The left tumor definitely had to be removed because it not only caused crippling back pain , but because the chances of it being cancerous were high. My heart dropped. I was devastated. On top of all the medical conditions I have endured, now a possible cancer scare? I made the difficult decision to have a total hysterectomy. Fear and sadness set in after realizing I would be placed into surgical menopause and the possibility of having children were gone. The doctors did not want to schedule any surgeries until I had graduated from oxygen therapy and my health was more stable.
In August 2017, I was stable enough to have both surgeries for my hysterectomy and fistula for permanent dialysis access in my arm.The first week in August I had my hysterectomy surgery. It went well and no cancer was found. Exactly one week later, I had surgery to create a dialysis access in my arm. Due to scar tissue and blood clots, the fistula that was created did not stay open and failed to heal correctly. Another surgery was scheduled in September 2017, which was successful and matured well.
Having suffered through exhausting life threatening health conditions, working through overwhelming emotional, and spiritual hurdles was very traumatic and stressful.
Through the love and generosity of my cousin who has selflessly volunteered to be my kidney donor, I have been given the opportunity to prolong my life. My goal is to raise funds to help my family as they team together to support my cousin and I during this challenging time. This fundraising effort is to help offset the ever increasing costs of co-pays, medical bills, lifelong medications, doctor visits, living and travel expenses, missed work days and any unforeseen expenses.
My cousin has a husband and two young children. Part of my goal is to help provide some financial assistance for her family as well as my own during this difficult time as they take the time to care for my cousin and i post surgery. As my cousin takes time off work to recover in the weeks after surgery, part of the funds raised will be used to help alleviate some of the financial burdens they may encounter. I hate having to ask for assistance, but for a life saving situation like this, I want to make sure all parties involved are comfortable and not have to bear the weight of financial burdens.
Any help would be appreciated. Thank you to everyone in advance for your support, thoughts and prayers. I only ask if you cannot donate, please help spread the word and share this post.
Organizer
Elaine Villanueva
Organizer
Daly City, CA
