Hello, my name is Rolande Romblad and this is my youngest son Chad who is 39 years old. Three years ago, he was informed by his doctor that his kidneys were failing, and that he needed to prepare himself for the fact that he would one day have to start dialysis and need a kidney transplant. For me it was devasting news. For Chad, it was another obstacle in living a “normal” life.

You might think, wow that’s strange out of the blue. But it wasn’t. This wasn’t the first time we heard alarming news. When he was four years old, he was diagnosed with ALL, acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He took it in stride ... but then he relapsed one month before the end of treatment. We thanked God that there was a match for a bone marrow transplant within the family. All that is a totally different tale to tell. We always managed to provide for his care.

For the next 14 years or so he lived like any other normal boy, doing things that a young boy likes to do. He had no restrictions, per se. He did have a couple of medical issues caused by the treatments he received, but again he took them in stride. He enjoyed his high school years and went on to graduate college. He fell in love and got married to his wife Becky, and is in the process of adopting his stepson, Joshua.

We always knew there were possibilities for late effects of the high doses of chemotherapy and radiation. After all, they had to kill all his cells to accept the NEW marrow. Chad began to experience health issues, such as having to have multiple procedures to insert cardiac stents, developing type 2 diabetes and having to take insulin. Throughout everything he has maintained a positive attitude. He continues to work, loves to joke around and stays active playing softball.

Last fall it happened. The kidneys were no longer functioning. The process for peritoneal dialysis began but was slow going. He began dialysis on Christmas day after being rushed to the emergency room. He began peritoneal dialysis at home in January of this year. This means he does his dialysis treatments on his own, daily. He currently is on a regiment of 5 treatments per day (which take approx 30 mins each), every 4 hours.

I am now praying a kidney becomes available sooner than later. He’s currently on the kidney transplant list for a kidney from a non-living donor, with average wait times of 5-7 years. A living donor is the best-case scenario by having less complications, shorter wait times, and other benefits. Check out this link for more information on becoming a living donor: https://www.kidney.org/transplantation/livingdonors/general-information-living-donation

If you are interested in seeing if you are a match for Chad, please contact Rhode Island Hospital Transplant Donor Coordinator Sarah Gibb (we can give you her contact information if you reach out to us, GoFundMe will not allow her personal information to post). The WEBSITE TO PRESCREEN THROUGH LIFESPAN IS: https://www.lifespan.org/centers-services/transplant-center/living-kidney-donor-program/can-i-donate-kidney/donor-evaluation .

While he is waiting for a kidney, the medical expenses are increasing. I have never asked for help and neither has Chad. It’s not an easy thing to do for us but I believe it is now necessary. Chad has group health insurance, but it does not cover everything. Continued dialysis can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $90,000 yearly depending on the insurance coverage. And in 2020 a kidney transplant cost over $400,000.

If you can help with any amount, it is greatly appreciated.