INTRODUCTION

Before 2020, I never would have thought that I would be writing this story or trying to raise these funds. Hello. My name is Jerry Garcia. I am a U.S. Marine veteran who lived on the Camp Lejeune base and was exposed to toxic drinking water, which damaged my kidneys. In 2020, after having COVID twice and barely surviving, I was hospitalized with renal failure and had to begin dialysis—the virus exacerbated the kidney damage. It took multiple hospital stays and medical procedures to arrive where I am today: dialysis three times a week until the transplant takes place.

KIDNEY TRANSPLANT

The usual process of evaluation for and completion of a transplant is lengthy, taking up to 9 years for many. Transplants are expensive, with out-of-pocket expenses exceeding $400K. Everyone’s transplant journey is unique and mine will be, too. For instance, I am on a donor's list and have been fortunate enough to have obtained a donor already—a total miracle. My personal transplant journey has been shortened significantly and will potentially complete before the end of the year. So what follows is my kidney transplant journey.

WHY I AM ASKING FOR HELP

When a person begins this particular journey, they are surrounded by a group of medical advisors (supporting clinic and hospital staff), medical professionals (doctors, nurses, nutritionists, fundraising experts, etc), mental health professionals (psychologists and social workers), etc. I have the same kind of team. Day in and day out, each of these practitioners is calling; I am being monitored and cared for by them; and they are researching and providing information to me that guides decision-making. Upon the advice of my medical team, I have taken this step to reach out to my community. We have never been wealthy people and that has never been something we have striven for. God has blessed me over the years to be able to provide for my family and I am thankful. Like many, we do not have hundreds of thousands of dollars laying around. We have been tasked to stretch our funds of late, just like so many other Americans have. I had to consider that and talk that over with my medical team. After they exhausted all benefits available to me, the consensus has been that I move forward. I need assistance to cover specific areas of the transplant process (financial and medical requirements) that are not provided for by my current VA benefits, such as all of my immunosuppressant medications, as well as expenses incurred during hospitalization for my donor and immediate family. The medications are very expensive and transplants do not happen without a guarantee that these will be provided. Eligibility for full coverage VA insurance is for active duty, retiree, and some National Guard personnel--I do not qualify for any of those categories. Additionally, the Camp Lejuene, 'toxic drinking water' case is fraught with legal challenges and faces an uphill battle. Thus, having lived there at the specified times does not, in and of itself, qualify me for a 'military service-related illness'. There are also transplant reserves that are required for lifetime aftercare. All of this and more makes it imperative that I ask for help at this time. Medicare can be added, but based on my unique circumstances, it has been decided that that will not be an option for me.

CHALLENGES

There are many checks and balances that I continually have to submit to support my medical condition. My focus is not on the legalities of the Camp LeJeune case, but on getting through this transplant. In January 2021, my body was so depleted by acute renal failure and congestive heart failure, that I had to resign from employment and file for disability. That has still not been resolved, even though dialysis immediately qualified me for it. At present, I receive hemodialysis, which means my dialysis port has been surgically connected to the main artery of my heart. The advantage is in the access to that main artery. The risks are great, however. These include cardiac arrhythmias, intradialytic hypotension or hypertension, dialysis disequilibrium syndrome, reactions to the HD membrane, air embolism, bleeding, seizures, and of course, constant attention and care of the port sight—infection would be fatal.

My wife bravely took on the responsibilities of sole earner and primary caregiver for a disabled veteran. She has worked tirelessly and has not wavered in confronting issues while attempting to provide for us. It hasn’t been easy. There has been some cognitive decline for me as well, which has been frustrating and scary. My eyes have been severely damaged, affecting my vision. I can see, but I cannot always see well enough to drive or to even read at times. Once a month I receive shots and laser surgery in each eye, in an attempt to better my vision. On top of everything else that she carries, my wife also serves as my reminder, my memory, and my eyes daily. Further, she transports me to multiple, monthly medical appointments. These can take half a day or more—no income earned. The challenges are real.

HOPE AND GRATITUDE

I am and always have been dedicated to my family and friends. While there have been times over the last few years that I wondered how long I would have with them, I have fought tenaciously to hold onto hope. I am thankful for every opportunity I have been given to impact the lives of others positively; I am proud and thankful to have been able to serve my country. I am thankful for the VA benefits that I have; they are a blessing. I would not be here today had God not afforded me time, hope, and benefits. One of my greatest debts of gratitude is to the creditors who have shown leniency and extended grace periods to us during this time. Thank you.

CONCLUSION

Now, as I continue to look forward, my donor and I have to complete multiple examinations and evaluations; but most importantly, we have to ensure that funds are available for the medical requirements that are not covered by my current VA benefits.

Please help me. No amount is too small. I do not want you to feel that you have to give a large amount. Every dollar counts and I am thankful. I will keep you updated on my journey. Thank you, thank you, thank you. #kidneytransplant