Catherine's Kidney Campaign

Hi, my name is Catherine Crni, 43 years old, from Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada. I have type 1 diabetes since the age of 7. Because of this chronic illness I am now suffering from end-stage kidney failure. My kidneys are only functioning at 6% now. Almost every day I feel too ill to get up. I don't know what it feels like anymore to not feel sick. I catch my mom crying a lot because she cannot make me feel better. It completely breaks my heart to see her so sad because of me.

I'm doing this go-fund-me campaign for two reasons. The first reason is to reach out to anyone willing to be a potential kidney donor for me. I have blood type O and require a donor with the same O as me. If I'm able to find an actual live person to donate a kidney, the transplantation would offer me a second chance at life and hope for the future. I was recently added to the deceased donor list, but because of the shortage of deceased donor organs, the waiting period has increased and may take 5-10 years.

Now, if a person's blood type is incompatible with mine, there is a second type of transplant called a living donor paired exchange transplant. This is a widely accepted and preferred option for people suffering from kidney disease. In a paired exchange program, living kidney donors who do not have the same blood type O as me, donate a kidney to a selected recipient who is facing a similar situation with their own donor. In this manner, the two kidney's are "swapped" between the two donor pairs. My mom and I are on this list because we are incompatible blood matches. This however, may also take a very long time.

If you, or someone you know, would like to be assessed as my potential kidney donor, I'd help anyvway I could. It can be a very overwhelming process, but you'd be saving a life...my life. The phone # to contact the kidney donor nurse at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver is

604-806-9027 or email address is [email redacted].ca

They are great there and will get you started on the process if interested.

The second reason I'm doing this go-fund-me campaign is to raise funds for the transplant and recovery. This is extremely difficult to ask for help because I've never had to ask for help before. I admit, I'm extremely worried about the high costs of transplant surgery. I'm on long-term disability and cannot work. I'm also a single person. My best friend mentioned that I start a go-fund-me campaign to raise money so I'm set to go as soon as I get the call to oack up and go. The whole process of kidney transplantation and recovery takes approximately 3 months. I must stay close to St. Paul's Hospital after discharge for clinic appointments. I will not be able to go home. I need to raise funds for the flight to Vancouver, accommodation for 3 months at a nearby hotel or apartment, transportation to and from clinic, food and many many medications. I'm asking for anyone who can help at all raise funds for my kidney transplant. Any amount would be so greatly appreciated.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read this.

One last thing I'd like to ask of each of you, is to share my story that I have on my fb page with your contacts. The more people who see this the better my likelihood of finding a donor, so please please share.