This is one of those good news/bad news stories, the kind where the bad news comes in big doses, but that ends with the sort of good news we need these days.
For Tom, the bad news started when at 25, he was diagnosed with stage 3 chronic kidney disease. The good news? He had the love and support of his family and many friends in the Geneva community where he lived, plus medications and a special diet kept the disease in check. Sure, his kidney function was down to 50%, but with any luck, it would stay at that level the rest of his life. The bad news, of course, is that it didn’t.
In his early 40s, Tom’s kidney function dropped below 30%. Stage 4. It was then that he began to feel the true symptoms of the disease—fatigue, swelling in his legs, headaches, nausea and dizziness. Bad news, yes, but the good news was that as uncomfortable as the symptoms were, he still could look forward to a relatively normal, productive life. A few years later the bad news retuned with a vengeance. His kidney function suddenly dropped to 10%—acute kidney failure—and Tom found himself in the hospital.
The good news was that there was suddenly a lot of good news. While he was hospitalized, Tom’s kidney function rebounded (a bit) and doctors began the transplant evaluation and donor search process. Tom’s youngest brother Jon volunteered to be the first tested and proved to be a perfect match.
During this time, Tom had some good news of different sort. In 2015, at a DeSales High School class reunion, Tom met Nicole (who admits she was just crashing the party) and within a year they were engaged.
After all the good news, the bad news hit hard. In the months leading up to the wedding, Tom’s brother Mark passed away and Tom’s kidney function dropped below 11%. And this time it did not bounce back. Tom had reached Stage 5 kidney failure. The end stage. The doctors immediately began the transplant process, starting with another barrage of tests for both Tom and Jon. It was at this point that Jon had his own good news/bad news to deal with. The bad news was that his appendix needed to be removed, the good news was that it was a simple procedure, and Jon quickly recovered and today, both Tom and Jon are getting ready for the transplant that will literally save Tom’s live. The doctors are optimistic, insurance will cover the procedure itself and there’s every reason to believe that Tom will enjoy many more years filled with lots of good news.
Unfortunately, that’s not where this story ends.
Bad news first. Insurance doesn’t cover everything. Tom and Jon will both need to take extensive time off of work to recover—anywhere between three and six months. Tom will also require daily trips back to the hospital for testing and critical injections of anti-rejection medicines. This will require Nicole to take additional time off, adding to the financial strain that they will all face.
Let’s end this story on a positive note.
You have the power to make a significant difference in Tom, Nicole and Jon’s lives. And no, you don’t have to donate a kidney! All you have to do is donate money. Not a lot, just what you can spare. If you’ve read this far, you care enough about Tom, Nicole and Jon to get involved. And if you don’t know them and you’ve read this far you must have a big heart. And if everybody who’s read this far donated something right now? That would be really good news.
For Tom, the bad news started when at 25, he was diagnosed with stage 3 chronic kidney disease. The good news? He had the love and support of his family and many friends in the Geneva community where he lived, plus medications and a special diet kept the disease in check. Sure, his kidney function was down to 50%, but with any luck, it would stay at that level the rest of his life. The bad news, of course, is that it didn’t.
In his early 40s, Tom’s kidney function dropped below 30%. Stage 4. It was then that he began to feel the true symptoms of the disease—fatigue, swelling in his legs, headaches, nausea and dizziness. Bad news, yes, but the good news was that as uncomfortable as the symptoms were, he still could look forward to a relatively normal, productive life. A few years later the bad news retuned with a vengeance. His kidney function suddenly dropped to 10%—acute kidney failure—and Tom found himself in the hospital.
The good news was that there was suddenly a lot of good news. While he was hospitalized, Tom’s kidney function rebounded (a bit) and doctors began the transplant evaluation and donor search process. Tom’s youngest brother Jon volunteered to be the first tested and proved to be a perfect match.
During this time, Tom had some good news of different sort. In 2015, at a DeSales High School class reunion, Tom met Nicole (who admits she was just crashing the party) and within a year they were engaged.
After all the good news, the bad news hit hard. In the months leading up to the wedding, Tom’s brother Mark passed away and Tom’s kidney function dropped below 11%. And this time it did not bounce back. Tom had reached Stage 5 kidney failure. The end stage. The doctors immediately began the transplant process, starting with another barrage of tests for both Tom and Jon. It was at this point that Jon had his own good news/bad news to deal with. The bad news was that his appendix needed to be removed, the good news was that it was a simple procedure, and Jon quickly recovered and today, both Tom and Jon are getting ready for the transplant that will literally save Tom’s live. The doctors are optimistic, insurance will cover the procedure itself and there’s every reason to believe that Tom will enjoy many more years filled with lots of good news.
Unfortunately, that’s not where this story ends.
Bad news first. Insurance doesn’t cover everything. Tom and Jon will both need to take extensive time off of work to recover—anywhere between three and six months. Tom will also require daily trips back to the hospital for testing and critical injections of anti-rejection medicines. This will require Nicole to take additional time off, adding to the financial strain that they will all face.
Let’s end this story on a positive note.
You have the power to make a significant difference in Tom, Nicole and Jon’s lives. And no, you don’t have to donate a kidney! All you have to do is donate money. Not a lot, just what you can spare. If you’ve read this far, you care enough about Tom, Nicole and Jon to get involved. And if you don’t know them and you’ve read this far you must have a big heart. And if everybody who’s read this far donated something right now? That would be really good news.
Organizer and beneficiary
Rosa Smith-Montanaro
Organizer
Rochester, NY
Tom Chilbert
Beneficiary