This fundraiser came about as so many people have been asking me what they can do to help my sister and I. As many know, I was born with a congenital defect that caused my kidneys to not grow properly. The function I was born with lasted until 4th grade where I had a pretty intense amount of testing followed by a 7hr surgery. Unfortunately, it was too late for my kidney to grow any more. The day after my 18th birthday I was having emergency surgery on my other kidney where they put in a Neph tube to see if any function in that kidney would come back. Unfortunately, again it was too late. I had another procedure to fix my veins and ureter around that kidney and was then left with 18% total function.  I was able to be listed for transplant when I was 18 but I believed I could live with what I had. I did for 15 years. In July 2019 that all came crashing down as I dropped below 10% total function. I again pushed as long as possible and immediately started the transplant process. Unfortunately, it is a very long process and I had to start dialysis in October of 2019. As soon as I started the process my sister, Emily, was the first to jump in and get tested. She actually didn't even tell me because she was more focused on making sure I got a kidney as fast as possible. Along the way many other people also started the process and I couldn't be more thankful to them as well. In March 2020 Covid-19 happened and slowed everything down more than it already had been. My sister did not give up. She took care of me for 4 months during the pandemic so I could go to the dialysis clinic by her. This was important because the lack of care I was getting at my previous clinic almost killed me. She never asked me for one penney. She never asked me for anything. She just did what big sister's do and took care of me. No strings attached. She kept calling, kept getting tests done and kept pushing even when it wasn't easy. She finally was officially approved and set up surgery for February 16th 2021. Exactly 1 day shy of a year of being listed. On February 16th my sister saved my life. Donors always  hurt worse and take longer to recover. Again, she did what a big sister does. She is an amazing person whom I am so grateful to have in my life.
Originally, I planned on paying all our expenses on our own. However, everyone has said they want to help and this is the biggest way to help both of us. Any money donated will go to my medical expenses (my insurance covers both her's and my surgery. (Any copays are billed to me.) It will also be used for general expenses. For example, travel to the hospital (I go twice a week for check ups) lodging expenses, food expenses, Emily's rent and utility bills while she isn't working and anything else that comes up. If you can donate a dollar that's awesome. If you can not... we still love you. This is the biggest thing in my life and everyone's support means the world to us.