Kidney Transplant Support

My dad (Ken) has been my rock and superhero since I was a little girl (43 years).  Dad raised me and my brother since we were kids and when my mother left the household.  For nearly 10 or more years, my dad has been fighting to overcome chronic kidney disease caused either by previous medications for sports and work injuries and/or by sudden drops in blood pressure when diagnosed with prostate cancer about 10 years ago.  For 3 years, dad has been on hemodialysis every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday early morning.  Like other dialysis patients, dad needs dialysis to live.  For those who know my dad, you know he’s a loving, strong-minded, never give up and never surrender father and friend.  I am by no means the type of person to ask for help, but reality hit the evening of Sunday, January 14, 2018.  That night, we received several calls from Scripps hospital in San Diego/La Jolla.  Scripps called to tell us that dad is #3 in line for a kidney transplant.  Although exciting, stressful, scary, and unnerving at the same time (an emotional roller coaster)I immediately thought to myself:  ‘’Whether it’s today or sometime in the future, we need to be prepared for a call out of the blue to immediately go in for transplant.’’  Given that San Diego is close to 110 miles away from where we live in Los Angeles and that dad and I have three senior citizen dogs (our puppies) in addition to me working full-time as a college administrator, I accepted that I/we need support.  What kind of support?  Any financial contribution (small or large) that will assist with:  lodging (extended stay hotel or other temporary housing accommodation), transportation (gas, train, airfare, uber, etc.), home care assistance, pre and post-transplant medical needs, and/or anything else that’s necessary to support dad with whatever’s related to his kidneys, etc.  If dad is offered a transplant this year (2018) or in the future, he will be required to remain in the vicinity of the hospital and return to the hospital for several weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly check-in’s for probably 2 to 3 months.  With that said, travel and lodging expenses, as well home care assistance, will be costly.  This is why I am going beyond my pride to ask for help.  Any contribution that is not used for my dad’s pre and hopefully, post transplant procedures, including general healthcare related to his kidneys, will be donated to a nonprofit kidney and/or a single fathers association/organization.  ALL DONATIONS WILL BE SAVED IN MY SAVINGS ACCOUNT once withdrawn from GoFundMe. As I currently do and have done in the past, I will personally pay out of pocket all expenses not covered by my dad’s health insurance. Donations will assist me directly in supporting my dad through kidney failure and a future transplant.  From my heart, thank you for your consideration and if you donate, thank you for your generosity.  Truly, Dione (Dee Dee) Carter, January 15, 2018