- J
Amanda's Kidney Transplant
0% complete
$1,875 raised of $10K
27 donations
Hi, my name is Maureen Brigham and this is the story of how my sister-in-law, Amanda's kidney's failed and why she needed a transplant.
This is Amanda's GoFundMe to help her cover the many medical/related living costs both pre and post living donor Kidney Transplant Operation performed October 13, 2015 at Yale New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut.
Amanda was born with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD). ADPKD is a genetic disorder which causes nasty, puss-filled cysts to grow in the kidneys. Amanda was diagnosed with this life threatening disease 18 years ago. These cysts multiplied and eventually took over her kidneys. This led to a reduction in her kidney function and finally kidney failure.
Last year when Amanda's kidney function was in the single digits, she had a port put in and began daily dialysis and was placed on the list for a kidney. You cannot get on the donor list until you are in end-stage renal disease. There are 100,000 people in the United States on the list at any given time and only 17,000 of those people actually get a kidney.
Getting a kidney from a live donor has the greatest success rate for no rejection. Blood type is the main criteria for donor matching but there are a series of other criteria that have to be met also. Amanda is Type O, however her blood produces anitbodies which made her an even harder match.
A handful of people got tested, including her husband, my brother, Tim who unfortunately, was not a match. However, Tim learned about the paired donation program at Yale New Haven Hospital and was accepted as a potential donor after extensive testing.
The paired donation program or kidney swap is for live donors who are not a match for their loved ones but are willing to donate to another person. The donors and recipients are put into a computer program, which then matches them up with a compatible donor/recipient and the kidneys are swapped.
The miracle call came in August of 2015 from her kidney transplant coordinator!!! A matching couple was found and Transplant Tuesday was scheduled for October 13th. Just two weeks ago she and my brother were given a new lease on life. I am happy to report that the new kidneys (of both recipients) are working beautifully, however recovery is delicate and involves many road trips to Yale and many anti-rejection medicine adjustments.
Amanda is self employed and will not be able to work for several months. Her diminished kidney function caused her to reduce her full-time work schedule to part-time last year. Transplant patients need to be closely monitored and travel to the Yale Kidney Clinic on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Although I am starting this GoFundMe for my sister-in-law, she wants me to share her gratitude and blessings upon you all. The physical and spiritual support she has recieved from her family and friends through this transplant journey has been overwhelming. The road to recovery will be long and tedious, but she is trying to stay positive and take things one day at a time. Your generous gift will help her worry less about being unable to work and concentrate on her healing.
Thank you and peace and blessings,
Maureen
This is Amanda's GoFundMe to help her cover the many medical/related living costs both pre and post living donor Kidney Transplant Operation performed October 13, 2015 at Yale New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut.
Amanda was born with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD). ADPKD is a genetic disorder which causes nasty, puss-filled cysts to grow in the kidneys. Amanda was diagnosed with this life threatening disease 18 years ago. These cysts multiplied and eventually took over her kidneys. This led to a reduction in her kidney function and finally kidney failure.
Last year when Amanda's kidney function was in the single digits, she had a port put in and began daily dialysis and was placed on the list for a kidney. You cannot get on the donor list until you are in end-stage renal disease. There are 100,000 people in the United States on the list at any given time and only 17,000 of those people actually get a kidney.
Getting a kidney from a live donor has the greatest success rate for no rejection. Blood type is the main criteria for donor matching but there are a series of other criteria that have to be met also. Amanda is Type O, however her blood produces anitbodies which made her an even harder match.
A handful of people got tested, including her husband, my brother, Tim who unfortunately, was not a match. However, Tim learned about the paired donation program at Yale New Haven Hospital and was accepted as a potential donor after extensive testing.
The paired donation program or kidney swap is for live donors who are not a match for their loved ones but are willing to donate to another person. The donors and recipients are put into a computer program, which then matches them up with a compatible donor/recipient and the kidneys are swapped.
The miracle call came in August of 2015 from her kidney transplant coordinator!!! A matching couple was found and Transplant Tuesday was scheduled for October 13th. Just two weeks ago she and my brother were given a new lease on life. I am happy to report that the new kidneys (of both recipients) are working beautifully, however recovery is delicate and involves many road trips to Yale and many anti-rejection medicine adjustments.
Amanda is self employed and will not be able to work for several months. Her diminished kidney function caused her to reduce her full-time work schedule to part-time last year. Transplant patients need to be closely monitored and travel to the Yale Kidney Clinic on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Although I am starting this GoFundMe for my sister-in-law, she wants me to share her gratitude and blessings upon you all. The physical and spiritual support she has recieved from her family and friends through this transplant journey has been overwhelming. The road to recovery will be long and tedious, but she is trying to stay positive and take things one day at a time. Your generous gift will help her worry less about being unable to work and concentrate on her healing.
Thank you and peace and blessings,
Maureen
Organizer and beneficiary
Amanda Howley
Beneficiary