Catherine's Kidney Transplant Fund
Donation protected
My name is Catherine, and as most of my friends and past co-workers know, I was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease in October 2011.
I began my journey with what was originally a cancer scare, so off to the hospital for 2 weeks of tests. The good news: it wasn’t cancer. Turns out it was a problem with my kidneys, and my particular disease causes a positive reading to the cancer test. I am not diabetic like most dialysis patients. They don't know what causes my particular kidney failure disease. At the time I was in the hospital, I had so much fluid that I couldn’t even put on regular shoes. I called my poor swollen feet my "hobbit feet." As you can see, I have kept my humor from the beginning of this journey God has sent me on!
began dialysis in January 2012, and have been on dialysis for 9 years this month. After several health bumps along the way, my nephrologist referred my case to OHSU's Transplant Program, and I was accepted to the program in 2018, but currently I am on hold. I even wrote a song about my journey in 2018, which can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xObYJuNK5ts
Did you know that the average cost of a transplant is $143,000? With insurance it is negotiated down, but the costs are not covered 100%. In addition, the anti-rejection drugs cost on average $17,000 per year. I am also on many medications while on dialysis, some of which are quite expensive (one of them is $400—my share after insurance). These are all the reasons why I have a Go Fund Me account.
Along my journey, I have kept a positive attitude and my humor. I am very proud to say, “I am still on this side of the grass!” However, things happen. If for some reason the transplant never happens, any donations made will be donated to Donate Life and the Kidney Foundation.
I pray my friends, family, old co-workers, wonderful people I've never met, and their friends will consider donating and sharing my link. "He who is generous will be blessed..." Proverbs 22:9
I began my journey with what was originally a cancer scare, so off to the hospital for 2 weeks of tests. The good news: it wasn’t cancer. Turns out it was a problem with my kidneys, and my particular disease causes a positive reading to the cancer test. I am not diabetic like most dialysis patients. They don't know what causes my particular kidney failure disease. At the time I was in the hospital, I had so much fluid that I couldn’t even put on regular shoes. I called my poor swollen feet my "hobbit feet." As you can see, I have kept my humor from the beginning of this journey God has sent me on!
began dialysis in January 2012, and have been on dialysis for 9 years this month. After several health bumps along the way, my nephrologist referred my case to OHSU's Transplant Program, and I was accepted to the program in 2018, but currently I am on hold. I even wrote a song about my journey in 2018, which can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xObYJuNK5ts
Did you know that the average cost of a transplant is $143,000? With insurance it is negotiated down, but the costs are not covered 100%. In addition, the anti-rejection drugs cost on average $17,000 per year. I am also on many medications while on dialysis, some of which are quite expensive (one of them is $400—my share after insurance). These are all the reasons why I have a Go Fund Me account.
Along my journey, I have kept a positive attitude and my humor. I am very proud to say, “I am still on this side of the grass!” However, things happen. If for some reason the transplant never happens, any donations made will be donated to Donate Life and the Kidney Foundation.
I pray my friends, family, old co-workers, wonderful people I've never met, and their friends will consider donating and sharing my link. "He who is generous will be blessed..." Proverbs 22:9
Organizer
Cathi Pittman
Organizer
Clackamas, OR
