Cara's Transplant Recovery
Donation protected
If you’re lucky enough to know Cara well, you know that asking for help doesn’t come easily to her. She’s much more likely to offer help than to ask for it. She’s always been more inclined to give than to take. But this time it’s different, because the stakes are high: Cara needs a new kidney and a new pancreas, and she needs your help.
Cara was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when she was 13 years old. The disease is chronic, and as a result, her kidneys and eyesight have failed. Now, at 31 and unable to drive, she’s been diagnosed with End-Stage Renal Disease. It sounds serious, because it is. For the past year, Cara has been in and out of the hospital. End-stage Renal Disease brings a host of new complications – Cara is immuno-compromised, which means that every bug or infection has the potential to hospitalize her. Complications with high blood pressure, glucose control or hypoglycemia, and even anemia pose a daily threat.
Cara is young, and her prognosis with a transplant is great. This is the opportunity she’s been hoping for. Before her diagnosis, Cara worked with animals and as a professional photographer. She and her husband had just bought their first home, and they dreamed about adopting a child (they had even successfully completed a home visit with an adoption agency). End-Stage Renal Disease put those dreams on hold, but Cara’s chance to live a healthy life is now within reach.
The intermediate treatment for End-Stage Renal Disease is dialysis. Three days a week, Cara is attached to a machine that filters her blood for four hours. It’s a temporary fix, and 4 hours of filtration can’t measure up to the 24 hours that a healthy kidney would provide. Thankfully, after a year full of health scares and hospital stays, several surgical procedures, and countless consultations with doctors, Cara got good news: she’s been approved for both a kidney and pancreas transplant!
Even if you don’t know Cara yourself, she’s someone you want in the world. Cara is funny, and warm, and caring. She collects teacups, and she cuddles every dog or cat she sees. She is smart, and resilient, and endlessly optimistic, despite the challenges she faces. She’s a wonderful daughter, wife, sister and friend. Above all, she is kind.
We are reaching out to you because Cara needs your help. Even with insurance, the associated costs of a transplant are overwhelming. Cara’s husband E.J. has been committed to balancing his job (which provides essential health insurance for Cara), with the needs of her treatment and care. But he can’t do this alone. Once Cara undergoes transplant surgery, E.J. will need to take unpaid FMLA leave from work to care for her at home. Lost wages, insurance co-pays, and unanticipated expenses associated with her treatment present a financial burden they can’t take on alone. Cara’s transplant coordinator at Houston Methodist Hospital recommended she turn to Go Fund Me for help.
The days and weeks ahead are sure to be filled with uncertainty and fear, but you can help. Please consider making a donation. Anything you can give will go directly toward supporting Cara while she recovers from a life-saving kidney and pancreas transplant.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for supporting Cara.
Cara was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when she was 13 years old. The disease is chronic, and as a result, her kidneys and eyesight have failed. Now, at 31 and unable to drive, she’s been diagnosed with End-Stage Renal Disease. It sounds serious, because it is. For the past year, Cara has been in and out of the hospital. End-stage Renal Disease brings a host of new complications – Cara is immuno-compromised, which means that every bug or infection has the potential to hospitalize her. Complications with high blood pressure, glucose control or hypoglycemia, and even anemia pose a daily threat.
Cara is young, and her prognosis with a transplant is great. This is the opportunity she’s been hoping for. Before her diagnosis, Cara worked with animals and as a professional photographer. She and her husband had just bought their first home, and they dreamed about adopting a child (they had even successfully completed a home visit with an adoption agency). End-Stage Renal Disease put those dreams on hold, but Cara’s chance to live a healthy life is now within reach.
The intermediate treatment for End-Stage Renal Disease is dialysis. Three days a week, Cara is attached to a machine that filters her blood for four hours. It’s a temporary fix, and 4 hours of filtration can’t measure up to the 24 hours that a healthy kidney would provide. Thankfully, after a year full of health scares and hospital stays, several surgical procedures, and countless consultations with doctors, Cara got good news: she’s been approved for both a kidney and pancreas transplant!
Even if you don’t know Cara yourself, she’s someone you want in the world. Cara is funny, and warm, and caring. She collects teacups, and she cuddles every dog or cat she sees. She is smart, and resilient, and endlessly optimistic, despite the challenges she faces. She’s a wonderful daughter, wife, sister and friend. Above all, she is kind.
We are reaching out to you because Cara needs your help. Even with insurance, the associated costs of a transplant are overwhelming. Cara’s husband E.J. has been committed to balancing his job (which provides essential health insurance for Cara), with the needs of her treatment and care. But he can’t do this alone. Once Cara undergoes transplant surgery, E.J. will need to take unpaid FMLA leave from work to care for her at home. Lost wages, insurance co-pays, and unanticipated expenses associated with her treatment present a financial burden they can’t take on alone. Cara’s transplant coordinator at Houston Methodist Hospital recommended she turn to Go Fund Me for help.
The days and weeks ahead are sure to be filled with uncertainty and fear, but you can help. Please consider making a donation. Anything you can give will go directly toward supporting Cara while she recovers from a life-saving kidney and pancreas transplant.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for supporting Cara.
Organizer
Cara Thompson
Organizer
Houston, TX
