Support for Gavin Sorensen: A Young Man Facing a Life-Altering Health Battle

Meet Gavin Sorensen, a 21-year-old who was suddenly struck by end-stage kidney failure, leaving him with only 8% kidney function. What started as a routine respiratory infection around Christmas quickly escalated over the next five weeks, leaving him debilitated and in severe pain. It wasn’t until last week that Gavin’s primary care doctor discovered that Gavin was in kidney failure and sent him to the ER. After being admitted the doctors began working on trying to find the cause for the kidney failure, which we now know is vasculitis that was triggered by the respiratory infection. Vasculitis is an auto-immune condition that affects the blood vessels and can attack any part of the body, in Gavin's case, his kidneys.

Gavin has been hospitalized and, since Sunday, has undergone three rounds of dialysis with minimal improvement. Doctors have placed a permanent dialysis line, in his chest, for ongoing dialysis when he leaves the hospital, which he will need every other day, until his kidney function comes back up. The doctors are working to stabilize him enough to begin chemotherapy. The chemotherapy will turn off his immune system in order to stop the vasculitis from attacking his kidneys. He’ll likely need the chemotherapy treatments for the next four months.

Gavin and his fiancée, Whitney, had big plans. They were preparing for their wedding this June, and Gavin was set to start classes at Salt Lake Community College. They had just moved into a new apartment, with Gavin beginning a new job—only to be let go after missing work due to his health decline.

This young couple is now facing an overwhelming financial burden, as Gavin’s treatment will require ongoing dialysis and a lifetime of health management. The future they had envisioned has dramatically changed, and the road ahead will be long and difficult.

We are reaching out to you for support to help ease their financial stress during this incredibly challenging time. Any donation, no matter the size, will make a difference and help them focus on Gavin’s recovery rather than the mounting bills.

Please join us in supporting Gavin and Whitney as they navigate this unexpected and life-altering journey. All funds will go directly to Whitney and Gavin to help cover costs of rent, medical expenses and costs of living during this hard time.

You can donate here or directly to Whitney's venmo:

@WhitLovell