Jim and Tracy's Kidney Donation Fun
Donation protected
HI.
For those that do not know me personally, my name is Jim and I am Tracy's brother who is currently in need of a kidney transplant, due to polycystic kidney disease. The next paragraph is going to be a brief history of my disease, followed by a brief introduction to my sister.
My mother was diagnosed with PKD or polycystic kidney disease in her 30's but little to no information was known about it, except it slowly destroyed the kidneys and caused blood pressure problems ,which inevitably caused a stroke. This, sadly was my mothers fate. My mother passed away due to the disease, she was 49 years old.
At the time of my mothers death, I was 32 years old and had no idea that I too, carried the disease. One afternoon, I found myself in the ER due to hematuria, which is blood in the urine. After an ultrasound, it was confirmed that I had PKD. I got the best nephrologist and learned everything i could about the disease. In roughly 2008, I enrolled in a clinical trial for a drug to stop the advancement of cysts growing on my kidneys.
After two years, the trial came to an end and with the end, my treatments stopped.
Truthfully, I was at a crossroads in life. It seemed everything bad in life was happening to me. I had lost my job as an architectual designer, my marriage was failing and my kidneys were losing their battle. I was depressed for the first time in my life!
Most of you that know me know that I'm not a quitter and choose to fight. I went back to college yet again and recieved my degree as a registered nurse. To combat the kidney issue, I went to dialysis 3 times a week for 3 hours and found a full time position at Sparrow Hospital.
Now, I had the resources to be a single father to my twin boys, and not worry about finances.
2015 proved to be a great year, though exhausting. I continue to work full time and continue my dialysis treatments AND......I have a kidney donor match in my sister Tracy.
My sister. How do you describe someone who is ultimately saving your life? A savior. This person who never asks for anything for herself, she is selfless, and I love her! My sister Tracy is the mother of 3 beautiful children. Gabrielle who is 15, is a star athlete in soccer and basketball and is on the national honor society in school. Michael is 13, loves playing football and is an avid hunter and also on the honor society. Matthew, the youngest, is 10 years old and loves to read daily. He has an extraordiary love of animals and though he's shy, will be the first one to play with someone who has no one to play with. Yes, you could say my sister has done an excellent job raising her children as a single parent, even working 2 jobs as a radiologist technician and a hair stylist. She puts in 60+ hours a week, yet still manages to come home and help her children do homework. On top of that, she volunteers to submit herself to months of pain and loss of those vital wages to help me.
What we are humbley asking for is any help possible with after surgical expenses. Fortunately, my insurance covers the bulk of the costs but neither her nor I, will be able to work for over a month. Any and all gifts are welcome. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all your support.
JIM & TRACY
For those that do not know me personally, my name is Jim and I am Tracy's brother who is currently in need of a kidney transplant, due to polycystic kidney disease. The next paragraph is going to be a brief history of my disease, followed by a brief introduction to my sister.
My mother was diagnosed with PKD or polycystic kidney disease in her 30's but little to no information was known about it, except it slowly destroyed the kidneys and caused blood pressure problems ,which inevitably caused a stroke. This, sadly was my mothers fate. My mother passed away due to the disease, she was 49 years old.
At the time of my mothers death, I was 32 years old and had no idea that I too, carried the disease. One afternoon, I found myself in the ER due to hematuria, which is blood in the urine. After an ultrasound, it was confirmed that I had PKD. I got the best nephrologist and learned everything i could about the disease. In roughly 2008, I enrolled in a clinical trial for a drug to stop the advancement of cysts growing on my kidneys.
After two years, the trial came to an end and with the end, my treatments stopped.
Truthfully, I was at a crossroads in life. It seemed everything bad in life was happening to me. I had lost my job as an architectual designer, my marriage was failing and my kidneys were losing their battle. I was depressed for the first time in my life!
Most of you that know me know that I'm not a quitter and choose to fight. I went back to college yet again and recieved my degree as a registered nurse. To combat the kidney issue, I went to dialysis 3 times a week for 3 hours and found a full time position at Sparrow Hospital.
Now, I had the resources to be a single father to my twin boys, and not worry about finances.
2015 proved to be a great year, though exhausting. I continue to work full time and continue my dialysis treatments AND......I have a kidney donor match in my sister Tracy.
My sister. How do you describe someone who is ultimately saving your life? A savior. This person who never asks for anything for herself, she is selfless, and I love her! My sister Tracy is the mother of 3 beautiful children. Gabrielle who is 15, is a star athlete in soccer and basketball and is on the national honor society in school. Michael is 13, loves playing football and is an avid hunter and also on the honor society. Matthew, the youngest, is 10 years old and loves to read daily. He has an extraordiary love of animals and though he's shy, will be the first one to play with someone who has no one to play with. Yes, you could say my sister has done an excellent job raising her children as a single parent, even working 2 jobs as a radiologist technician and a hair stylist. She puts in 60+ hours a week, yet still manages to come home and help her children do homework. On top of that, she volunteers to submit herself to months of pain and loss of those vital wages to help me.
What we are humbley asking for is any help possible with after surgical expenses. Fortunately, my insurance covers the bulk of the costs but neither her nor I, will be able to work for over a month. Any and all gifts are welcome. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all your support.
JIM & TRACY
Organizer
Jim Havlichek
Organizer
Flushing, MI