Joshua's Kidney Fund
Donation protected
Wow, what a year. In February 2013 I was on my way to work when the doctor called. He said to get to the hospital immediately as my kidneys were failing. This is all from a blood test the day before. I am 28 years old. I had not been feeling well for a few days and since my daughter had just had a stomach virus, I thought I had the same. After two weeks in the hospital, we found out my kidneys were no longer working and I would need a transplant. The day was February 7, 2013, my daughter Aurora's second birthday.
Well, as you can guess, our life changed that day. I immediately started dialysis while my wife changed my daughter's birthday plans and we had her party at the hospital.
The doctor informed us I would need to get on disability immediately. Well the problem with that is you can get the disability paperwork immediately but have to wait up to five months to receive any financial help. This all happened in February. I will not start receiving my disability until August. We have had to put my daughter in daycare due to me being in dialysis three times a week and being too tired the other two days a week to do much. My wife has had to take numerous days off of work for my surgeries to put my ports in for dialysis, regular checkups, appointments with the specialists, etc. Our income has been cut in half and we have now exhausted our savings and 401K to just pay the bills and get by. We receive no other help for daycare.
We do not like to ask for help and often don't. Now we are in a situation that we may lose our house. One of the requirements for a transplant is that you can financially afford the antirejection medication which can be over $900 a month even with Medicare! We are now paying over $100 a month for medications and that is even with my wife's insurance helping with the Medicare.
I try to keep a good attitude and really we have adjusted well as a family. My daughter and my wife are my number one priority and it is hard to see them struggle and to worry about money. We try to spend time at the park with our daughter and just make sure she is having fun and enjoying life. I know things happen for a reason and I trust God to get us through this. I also know everyone is struggling right now. If you can find it in your heart to help us, it would be greatly appreciated and one day we hope to be able to repay the favor. Even if everyone could just give five or ten dollars and passed this on, it would help. Please keep us in your prayers.
Thank you and God Bless,
Josh, Crystal and Aurora
Well, as you can guess, our life changed that day. I immediately started dialysis while my wife changed my daughter's birthday plans and we had her party at the hospital.
The doctor informed us I would need to get on disability immediately. Well the problem with that is you can get the disability paperwork immediately but have to wait up to five months to receive any financial help. This all happened in February. I will not start receiving my disability until August. We have had to put my daughter in daycare due to me being in dialysis three times a week and being too tired the other two days a week to do much. My wife has had to take numerous days off of work for my surgeries to put my ports in for dialysis, regular checkups, appointments with the specialists, etc. Our income has been cut in half and we have now exhausted our savings and 401K to just pay the bills and get by. We receive no other help for daycare.
We do not like to ask for help and often don't. Now we are in a situation that we may lose our house. One of the requirements for a transplant is that you can financially afford the antirejection medication which can be over $900 a month even with Medicare! We are now paying over $100 a month for medications and that is even with my wife's insurance helping with the Medicare.
I try to keep a good attitude and really we have adjusted well as a family. My daughter and my wife are my number one priority and it is hard to see them struggle and to worry about money. We try to spend time at the park with our daughter and just make sure she is having fun and enjoying life. I know things happen for a reason and I trust God to get us through this. I also know everyone is struggling right now. If you can find it in your heart to help us, it would be greatly appreciated and one day we hope to be able to repay the favor. Even if everyone could just give five or ten dollars and passed this on, it would help. Please keep us in your prayers.
Thank you and God Bless,
Josh, Crystal and Aurora
Organizer
Joshua Melton
Organizer
Titusville, FL
