Dad on dialysis-daughter to Disney!
Donation protected
My name is Matt, but my students call me Mr. Kirby. I am a single dad and special education teacher from Northern Illinois. I have chronic kidney disease, and have had chronic kidney disease since I was a baby. I have been off and on dialysis my whole life, and have had three kidney transplants.
I am currently on dialysis, as my last kidney failed about a year ago. I am trying to get back on the national transplant list, but have been denied by two hospitals; a fourth transplant may not be possible as there is too much scar tissue in my stomach, and no viable place to put a new organ. I will continue to talk to hospitals in hopes of a fourth transplant, but I'm being realistic, and I'm realizing that I may be on dialysis the remainder of my life. Adding to that, chronic kidney disease is fatal. Without a kidney transplant, my lifespan will be significantly less than that of an averge adult.
So, it's time to make priorites.
My daughter is my heart, my love, and my miracle. I was told a long time ago that I may never have a kid, due to medications and my medical history, but here she is.
I need to get her to Disney, and see her face when she looks at that castle, and to be a princess, a real princess, for a day or two. This is priority number one.
There are problems, of course. I have attempted to save for several years, but life ain't cheap, and special education teachers don't get paid much, no matter how hard we work. Medical and dialysis bills certainly don't help. It's possible for me to save it, of course, with hard work and self-control. The big issue, I feel, is that I'm a single dad on dialysis - I need dialysis three times a week, and each session is an average four hours. I would have no place to put my daughter as I went through a treatment. I have written Disney with my predicament, and am still waiting for an answer.
I would be incredibly thankful for whatever donations came my way. Willow's high school graduation is twelve years away - honestly, if I can get to see that, I'll consider myself very lucky. I'm trying to get as many happy memories packed in as I can. This would help.
I am currently on dialysis, as my last kidney failed about a year ago. I am trying to get back on the national transplant list, but have been denied by two hospitals; a fourth transplant may not be possible as there is too much scar tissue in my stomach, and no viable place to put a new organ. I will continue to talk to hospitals in hopes of a fourth transplant, but I'm being realistic, and I'm realizing that I may be on dialysis the remainder of my life. Adding to that, chronic kidney disease is fatal. Without a kidney transplant, my lifespan will be significantly less than that of an averge adult.
So, it's time to make priorites.
My daughter is my heart, my love, and my miracle. I was told a long time ago that I may never have a kid, due to medications and my medical history, but here she is.
I need to get her to Disney, and see her face when she looks at that castle, and to be a princess, a real princess, for a day or two. This is priority number one.
There are problems, of course. I have attempted to save for several years, but life ain't cheap, and special education teachers don't get paid much, no matter how hard we work. Medical and dialysis bills certainly don't help. It's possible for me to save it, of course, with hard work and self-control. The big issue, I feel, is that I'm a single dad on dialysis - I need dialysis three times a week, and each session is an average four hours. I would have no place to put my daughter as I went through a treatment. I have written Disney with my predicament, and am still waiting for an answer.
I would be incredibly thankful for whatever donations came my way. Willow's high school graduation is twelve years away - honestly, if I can get to see that, I'll consider myself very lucky. I'm trying to get as many happy memories packed in as I can. This would help.
Organizer
Matthew Kirby
Organizer
Rockford, IL