Medical cost for kidney transplant

Hello my dear friends and family! My friends, you may remember me as Dawn Squero, when I attended North Warren Regional High School. Mid-1982 I was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease. I was blessed with my first kidney transplant in 1990. Resulting from certain medical complications, I lost the kidney after 13 wonderful and healthy years.  The previous years of dialysis and other vascular health problems have damaged my blood vessels.  Currently, I have a graft in my upper thigh for needle access, required for my hemodialysis treatments.  I have treatments three days a week, 3 1/2 hrs each day while I await a second transplant.  I am currently on the transplant list at Tampa General Hospital, but due to the tremendous costs of immunosuppressant drugs (which my insurance does not cover) the LifeLine organization has placed me in a 'hold status' on the transplant list until I have acquired $15,000 in a kidney trust bank. I am not the only person facing this problem. Countless, well deserving patients are unable to have a much needed and life-saving transplant due to high costs of medications and follow-up care. There are patients in the same situation as me and deserve a second chance at life. A kidney transplant is the only thing that will ensure my overall health would greatly improve. This transplant will ensure a longer and healthy lifestyle for me. Due to the years and years of dialysis treatments, sites for needle accesses on my body are becoming limited. I appreciate any help you can offer. I know times are tough all over, please do what you can to help me live a fruitful life.

All of you are in my prayers that you and your families are staying healthy and well. Those of you who are struggling with your own health issues, godspeed for a healthy recovery.

Thank you, thank you, thank you...for everything.

Godspeed,
Dawn M. Venturino