Matt's Medical Fund

Late Monday night, October 9, I woke up with horrible stomach pain. After suffering through most of the night, my fiance Sierra drove me to the emergency room. We thought I was having complications or flaring from my ulcerative colitis. I had labwork drawn and CT of my abdomen. Shortly after, I was quickly admitted to the critical care unit with enlarged liver and spleen (hepatosplenomegally), swollen lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy), anemia, and kidney failure - with an alarmingly high creatinine level. I spent a week and a half in CCU with numerous tests to determine the source of my illness and to rule out several types of cancer including leukemia, myeloma, b-cell and t-cell lymphomas. I am so thankful that the painful bone marrow test was negative for cancer. None of the treatments for my kidneys were working so I underwent a kidney biopsy. The preliminary report from the biopsy showed chronic granulomatous interstitial nephritis most likely caused by the Humira I was taking for ulcerative colitis. This means I has swelling around the "filtering tubes" in my kidneys; it is treatable and potentially reversible, and is the best diagnosis I could have received. I am still in the hospital being treated with steroids and dialysis until my kidneys begin to improve. The first three dialysis treatments have been completed and regular labwork will show when my kidneys begin to function on their own. On Monday, October 15 I will have surgery to implant a more permanent dialysis catheter so I can be discharged to have outpatient dialysis 3 days a week. Dialysis could last for weeks or months - only God knows the path of this road He has placed me on and how long this journey will take. Everyone's prayers have most definitely been answered as there were so many more horrible diagnoses that were ruled out. As I don't know how long I will be on dialysis I am unable to work and have no benefits from my employer. I am asking for continued prayers that God will heal my kidneys so I can stop dialysis and I appreciate any contributions to assist with my medical and living expenses and bills while I am out of work. God bless everyone reading this. I love you and appreciate any help you can provide! ❤️