Dialysis Treatments for Margaret

Hello Friends,

My family has been through some challenging times in the last few years. In January 2009, my husband was laid off from a job he had held for over 9 years. Then on March 25, 2009, my younger sister Constance passed away. She was only 20 years old, and so, with her loss we lamented the husband she would never have, the children she would never birth, and the experiences we would never share. Life has never been the same without her, but we have found the courage to go on. 

In October 2011, my mother Margaret Chihota who lives in Zimbabwe was diagnosed with renal failure which is the inability of the kidneys to excrete waste and to maintain the electrolyte balance. She has been receiving hemodialysis since November 2011. Unfortunately, like many Zimbabweans she did not have medical insurance and the family was left to pay all her medical expenses. We were only able to get her medical insurance in March 2012, however there is an 18 month waiting period until the insurance company starts to pay for the dialysis. She receives dialysis twice a week at the Harare Hemodialysis Center. Her dialysis costs $200 per session.

Thus far, we have been paying for the dialysis out of pocket, putting a considerable strain on our finances. We are happy to do so as the dialysis is keeping her alive, but we acknowldege that we need help. And so, we are turning to you. We would like to raise $8,000 to continue her dialysis until her insurance takes over. We recognize that the amount is daunting, but take comfort in the knowledge that any gift of any size helps us to ensure her continued access to this life preserving care. 

Thank you in advance for your donation and God Bless!!!