Cj Ashley living donor
Donation protected
On March 5, 2019, two lives were changed forever.
This is our little family. CJ js a 25 year old Army veteran (25th Infantry) and has had custody of his 5 year old daughter Athena since she was born. My name is Angel and I am Cjs girlfriend. I have a 4 year old son named Abel, custody of twin 5 year olds, Hayden and Blaire, and I also have custody of Cjs 17 year old cousin Christian. Cj runs a wildlife control and removal company called ASAP Wildlife and has been the sole provider for our family, although I work part time at a veterinary clinic.
Sometime towards the end of 2018, Cj added himself to the living donor transplant list, hoping to donate his kidney and save a life. His father was ill and Cj wanted to donate his kidney to save him, but unfortunately his father was too sick to be a recipient and passed away. Since he couldn't help his father he wanted to help change someone else's life; a stranger.
He stayed in contact with the transplant team and went through all of the pre testing and bloodwork, and eventually received a call that there was a 6 year old boy in Virginia who was a blood match. This child has been suffering from kidney disease since birth and spent his whole life in and out of hospitals and specialists. The transplant team at VCU ran their blood against each others immune systems and it was a positive match. The surgery was rescheduled twice and the final surgery date was set for March 5, 2019.
This picture was taken the day of the surgery. Cj was doing great healing and was sent home on March 7. But unfortunately on the night of March 9th, Cj was having difficulty breathing and controlling his pain levels, so he was transported via ambulance to VCUs emergency room. They ran imaging tests and found blood clots in both lungs, a partially collapsed lung, fluid in both lungs and pneumonia. He was admitted back to the transplant floor where they tried again to control his pain unsuccessfully.
On March 10th, Cj was moved to the surgical trauma ICU and was put on IV blood thinners, antibiotics, and pain medicine, along with oxygen. His respiratory rate was still high and he was having a hard time moving oxygen through the left side of his body. His pain was localized to the left side at this point. He started on breathing exercises to help bring up the clots and control his breathing, and they began physical therapy.
On March 11th, his pain moved to the right side and they had to change and increase his medications. Today was a rough day.
On March 12th, he was moved from the surgical trauma ICU back to the transplant floor. They took him off the IV medications and started on oral pain medicine and blood thinners. Hes still in a lot of pain, working on getting rid of the blood clots, moving oxygen through his body, and controlling his respiratory rate.
At this point in time, were not sure how long he will remain in the hospital. Initially the recovery time was 6 weeks, but with all of the complications were not sure when Cj will be able to return to work. We do know that he will be on blood thinners until at least Thanksgiving and he will have to see a pulmonary doctor regularly. Right now I'm working 3 jobs and trying as hard as I can to keep up with bills and not get behind, but its getting difficult.
Whether it's an encouraging comment or a dollar donation, anything and everything helps. Don't take a single thing for granted, you dont know when your life is going to change forever.
This is our little family. CJ js a 25 year old Army veteran (25th Infantry) and has had custody of his 5 year old daughter Athena since she was born. My name is Angel and I am Cjs girlfriend. I have a 4 year old son named Abel, custody of twin 5 year olds, Hayden and Blaire, and I also have custody of Cjs 17 year old cousin Christian. Cj runs a wildlife control and removal company called ASAP Wildlife and has been the sole provider for our family, although I work part time at a veterinary clinic.
Sometime towards the end of 2018, Cj added himself to the living donor transplant list, hoping to donate his kidney and save a life. His father was ill and Cj wanted to donate his kidney to save him, but unfortunately his father was too sick to be a recipient and passed away. Since he couldn't help his father he wanted to help change someone else's life; a stranger.
He stayed in contact with the transplant team and went through all of the pre testing and bloodwork, and eventually received a call that there was a 6 year old boy in Virginia who was a blood match. This child has been suffering from kidney disease since birth and spent his whole life in and out of hospitals and specialists. The transplant team at VCU ran their blood against each others immune systems and it was a positive match. The surgery was rescheduled twice and the final surgery date was set for March 5, 2019.
This picture was taken the day of the surgery. Cj was doing great healing and was sent home on March 7. But unfortunately on the night of March 9th, Cj was having difficulty breathing and controlling his pain levels, so he was transported via ambulance to VCUs emergency room. They ran imaging tests and found blood clots in both lungs, a partially collapsed lung, fluid in both lungs and pneumonia. He was admitted back to the transplant floor where they tried again to control his pain unsuccessfully.
On March 10th, Cj was moved to the surgical trauma ICU and was put on IV blood thinners, antibiotics, and pain medicine, along with oxygen. His respiratory rate was still high and he was having a hard time moving oxygen through the left side of his body. His pain was localized to the left side at this point. He started on breathing exercises to help bring up the clots and control his breathing, and they began physical therapy.
On March 11th, his pain moved to the right side and they had to change and increase his medications. Today was a rough day.
On March 12th, he was moved from the surgical trauma ICU back to the transplant floor. They took him off the IV medications and started on oral pain medicine and blood thinners. Hes still in a lot of pain, working on getting rid of the blood clots, moving oxygen through his body, and controlling his respiratory rate.
At this point in time, were not sure how long he will remain in the hospital. Initially the recovery time was 6 weeks, but with all of the complications were not sure when Cj will be able to return to work. We do know that he will be on blood thinners until at least Thanksgiving and he will have to see a pulmonary doctor regularly. Right now I'm working 3 jobs and trying as hard as I can to keep up with bills and not get behind, but its getting difficult.
Whether it's an encouraging comment or a dollar donation, anything and everything helps. Don't take a single thing for granted, you dont know when your life is going to change forever.
Organizer
Patricia Krattiger
Organizer
Chestnut Hill, VA